Orchard, TX vs Surfside Beach, TX

Orchard is moderately more affordable than Surfside Beach, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Orchard scores 90 compared to 100 for Surfside Beach, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Surfside Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Orchard is $1,250/month compared to $1,292/month in Surfside Beach — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Orchard is more affordable at $211,400 median vs $310,700.

Median household income in Orchard is $41,705 compared to $96,250 in Surfside Beach (-56.7%). While Surfside Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Orchard spend roughly 36% of their income on rent, more than the 16.1% in Surfside Beach. The Surfside Beach ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (71.1°F vs 70.7°F). Orchard receives more rainfall at 49.7" per year compared to 45.8" in Surfside Beach.