Lockwood, MT vs Shelby, MT

Shelby is moderately more affordable than Lockwood, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Lockwood scores 82 compared to 73 for Shelby, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lockwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lockwood is $995/month compared to $769/month in Shelby — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shelby is more affordable at $206,000 median vs $250,900.

Median household income in Lockwood is $74,451 compared to $53,357 in Shelby (+39.5%). While Lockwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lockwood spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Shelby.

Climate-wise, Lockwood is notably warmer with an average of 48.2°F compared to 41.8°F in Shelby. Lockwood receives more rainfall at 14.3" per year compared to 10.8" in Shelby.