| Index | Carthage | Missouri | National |
| Cost of living | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 91 | 95 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Carthage allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Carthage stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.
Housing expenses can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Carthage stands out by reporting housing costs that are 41.8% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Carthage can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.
Is Carthage affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Carthage, for instance, where the median home price falls 51.3% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 19.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Carthage flaunting a median household income of $58,369, 28.2% lower than the national norm.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Carthage, is 41.8% lower than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Carthage, the transportation index is 1.5% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
The Carthage cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $86,387 | $7,199 | $2,016 | $2,592 |
| Renters | $41,960 | $3,497 | $979 | $1,259 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Missouri | 4.225% | 10.85% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Missouri | 2% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Cliff Village, MO | 15 | 94 | 5.5% |
| La Russell, MO | 150 | 75 | 25.4% |
| Golden City, MO | 652 | 77 | 23.1% |
| Sarcoxie, MO | 1,642 | 79 | 21.5% |
| Wentworth, MO | 111 | 79 | 21.2% |
| Carthage, MO | 15,195 | 84 | 16.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Jacksonville, TX | 15,199 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,190 | 132 | 31.8% |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 15,201 | 148 | 47.5% |
| Rosemère, QC | 15,188 | n/a | |
| Hampton Bays, NY | 15,184 | 153 | 53.4% |
| Carthage, MO | 15,195 | 84 | 16.4% |
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