Oak Grove, KY vs Shelbyville, KY

Oak Grove, KY and Shelbyville, KY have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.7% difference in their overall index. Oak Grove scores 80 while Shelbyville scores 82 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 Oak Grove is $1,208/month compared to $979/month in Shelbyville — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelbyville has cheaper rent, Oak Grove actually has lower median home values ($143,500 vs $238,600).

Median household income in Oak Grove is $47,886 compared to $73,733 in Shelbyville (-35.1%). While Shelbyville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Grove spend roughly 30.3% of their income on rent, more than the 15.9% in Shelbyville. The Shelbyville ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.