Plains, PA vs St. Marys, PA

St. Marys is moderately more affordable than Plains, with a 7.3% lower cost of living index. Plains scores 73 compared to 68 for St. Marys, 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 Plains is $950/month compared to $756/month in St. Marys — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Marys has cheaper rent, Plains actually has lower median home values ($141,800 vs $143,900).

Median household income in Plains is $65,417 compared to $64,471 in St. Marys (+1.5%). Plains does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Plains spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 14.1% in St. Marys.