New Kensington, PA vs Plains, PA

New Kensington is moderately more affordable than Plains, with a 11% lower cost of living index. New Kensington scores 65 compared to 73 for Plains, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Plains can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in New Kensington is $694/month compared to $950/month in Plains — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Kensington is more affordable at $132,400 median vs $141,800.

Median household income in New Kensington is $49,644 compared to $65,417 in Plains (-24.1%). 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 New Kensington spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Plains.