Roy, WA vs Shadow Lake, WA
There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Roy is 20% cheaper than Shadow Lake. With a cost index of 122 vs 153, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Roy to Shadow Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.
On the housing front, median rent in Roy is $1,594/month compared to $1,443/month in Shadow Lake — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shadow Lake has cheaper rent, Roy actually has lower median home values ($418,800 vs $847,100).
Median household income in Roy is $88,500 compared to $137,407 in Shadow Lake (-35.6%). While Shadow Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Roy spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12.6% in Shadow Lake.
Climate-wise, Shadow Lake is notably warmer with an average of 53.6°F compared to 50.5°F in Roy. Roy receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 34.7" in Shadow Lake.
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Climate
NOAA 30-year normals (1991-2020)