Surgoinsville, TN vs Sweetwater, TN

Sweetwater is moderately more affordable than Surgoinsville, with a 14.7% lower cost of living index. Surgoinsville scores 74 compared to 65 for Sweetwater, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Surgoinsville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Surgoinsville is $1,013/month compared to $625/month in Sweetwater — a 62% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sweetwater is more affordable at $166,000 median vs $170,000.

Median household income in Surgoinsville is $47,500 compared to $44,661 in Sweetwater (+6.4%). Surgoinsville does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Surgoinsville spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.8% in Sweetwater.