Shannon, MS vs Waynesboro, MS

Shannon, MS and Waynesboro, MS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.5% difference in their overall index. Shannon scores 63 while Waynesboro scores 63 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 Shannon is $723/month compared to $810/month in Waynesboro — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shannon has cheaper rent, Waynesboro actually has lower median home values ($84,400 vs $120,200).

Median household income in Shannon is $42,208 compared to $30,910 in Waynesboro (+36.6%). While Shannon is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Shannon spend roughly 20.6% of their income on rent, less than the 31.4% in Waynesboro. The Shannon ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.6°F vs 66.5°F). Waynesboro receives more rainfall at 58.9" per year compared to 57.7" in Shannon.