Paintsville, KY vs Somerset, KY

Paintsville is moderately more affordable than Somerset, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Paintsville scores 60 compared to 69 for Somerset, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Somerset can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Paintsville is $631/month compared to $830/month in Somerset — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Paintsville is more affordable at $110,800 median vs $140,900.

Median household income in Paintsville is $26,713 compared to $32,910 in Somerset (-18.8%). While Somerset is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Paintsville spend roughly 28.3% of their income on rent, less than the 30.3% in Somerset. The Paintsville ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.