MacArthur, WV vs Shady Spring, WV

MacArthur is moderately more affordable than Shady Spring, with a 12.5% lower cost of living index. MacArthur scores 66 compared to 75 for Shady Spring, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Shady Spring can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in MacArthur is $791/month compared to $923/month in Shady Spring — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: MacArthur is more affordable at $126,700 median vs $192,000.

Median household income in MacArthur is $26,824 compared to $70,792 in Shady Spring (-62.1%). While Shady Spring is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of MacArthur spend roughly 35.4% of their income on rent, more than the 15.6% in Shady Spring. The Shady Spring ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.