Malvern, AR vs Southside, AR

Malvern is moderately more affordable than Southside, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Malvern scores 61 compared to 65 for Southside, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Southside can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Malvern is $760/month compared to $790/month in Southside — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Malvern is more affordable at $95,500 median vs $127,400.

Median household income in Malvern is $40,602 compared to $55,469 in Southside (-26.8%). While Southside is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Malvern spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Southside.