Poteau, OK vs Spencer, OK

Poteau, OK and Spencer, OK have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Poteau scores 68 while Spencer scores 70 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 Poteau is $818/month compared to $940/month in Spencer — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Poteau has cheaper rent, Spencer actually has lower median home values ($119,000 vs $142,400).

Median household income in Poteau is $49,789 compared to $57,550 in Spencer (-13.5%). While Spencer is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Poteau spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, more than the 19.6% in Spencer.