Meadville, PA vs Plains, PA

Meadville, PA and Plains, PA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Meadville scores 70 while Plains scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Meadville is $887/month compared to $950/month in Plains — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Meadville is more affordable at $115,700 median vs $141,800.

Median household income in Meadville is $46,012 compared to $65,417 in Plains (-29.7%). While Plains is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Meadville spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Plains.