Southaven, MS vs Starkville, MS

Starkville is moderately more affordable than Southaven, with a 14.1% lower cost of living index. Southaven scores 91 compared to 80 for Starkville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Southaven can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Southaven is $1,361/month compared to $875/month in Starkville — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Starkville has cheaper rent, Southaven actually has lower median home values ($214,800 vs $265,900).

Median household income in Southaven is $76,159 compared to $39,751 in Starkville (+91.6%). While Southaven is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Southaven spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Starkville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.4°F vs 63.6°F). Starkville receives more rainfall at 57.7" per year compared to 54.9" in Southaven.