Oak Harbor, WA vs Shelton, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Shelton is 20.1% cheaper than Oak Harbor. With a cost index of 101 vs 121, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Shelton to Oak Harbor should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Harbor is $1,629/month compared to $1,298/month in Shelton — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shelton is more affordable at $296,100 median vs $421,700.

Median household income in Oak Harbor is $72,041 compared to $60,589 in Shelton (+18.9%). The higher salaries in Oak Harbor partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Harbor spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 25.7% in Shelton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 51.4°F). Shelton receives more rainfall at 67.9" per year compared to 19.9" in Oak Harbor.