Shelby, NC vs St. Stephens, NC

St. Stephens is moderately more affordable than Shelby, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Shelby scores 77 compared to 73 for St. Stephens, 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 Shelby is $899/month compared to $864/month in St. Stephens — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Stephens has cheaper rent, Shelby actually has lower median home values ($185,400 vs $187,500).

Median household income in Shelby is $50,705 compared to $57,882 in St. Stephens (-12.4%). St. Stephens offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Shelby spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 17.9% in St. Stephens.