Lenoir, NC vs Selma, NC

Lenoir is moderately more affordable than Selma, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Lenoir scores 65 compared to 73 for Selma, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Selma can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lenoir is $671/month compared to $824/month in Selma — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lenoir has cheaper rent, Selma actually has lower median home values ($161,100 vs $165,200).

Median household income in Lenoir is $48,889 compared to $37,440 in Selma (+30.6%). Lenoir offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Lenoir spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Selma.