Shelby, MI vs St. Johns, MI

Shelby is moderately more affordable than St. Johns, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Shelby scores 64 compared to 73 for St. Johns, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Johns can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Shelby is $682/month compared to $870/month in St. Johns — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shelby is more affordable at $124,000 median vs $175,300.

Median household income in Shelby is $53,309 compared to $63,030 in St. Johns (-15.4%). While St. Johns is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Shelby spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in St. Johns.