Rockingham, NC vs Shelby, NC

Rockingham is moderately more affordable than Shelby, with a 14.2% lower cost of living index. Rockingham scores 66 compared to 77 for Shelby, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Shelby can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Rockingham is $717/month compared to $899/month in Shelby — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rockingham is more affordable at $133,900 median vs $185,400.

Median household income in Rockingham is $36,695 compared to $50,705 in Shelby (-27.6%). While Shelby is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Rockingham spend roughly 23.4% of their income on rent, more than the 21.3% in Shelby.