A+
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
57%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Sharon Pennsylvania National
Cost of living8398100
Goods & Services9399100
Groceries10099100
Health care9194100
Housing4391100
Transportation107106100
Utilities125107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sharon, PA

The cost of living in Sharon affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Sharon is 83, which is 17% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Sharon stands out by reporting housing costs that are 57.3% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Is Sharon Affordable?

Is Sharon an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Sharon, the median home price is 65% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 39.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Sharon come in at $31,777, which is 42.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sharon?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Sharon, the utilities index stands at 25.4% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Sharon, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 3.07%.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Sharon, healthcare costs are 8.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Sharon, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sharon is 15% lower than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Sharon is 17% lower than the national average
  • Sharon housing is 57% lower than the national average
  • Pennsylvania general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania state income tax is 36% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Sharon

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Compare Sharon, PA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$49,684$4,140$1,159$1,491
      Renters$19,263$1,605$449$578
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Sharon, PA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Sharon homeowners, is $49,684. This would allow for a maximum of $1,159 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $19,263 which would result in a maximum of $449 to be spent on rental costs.

      Pennsylvania Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Pennsylvania 6% 8%

      Pennsylvania Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Pennsylvania 3.07% 3.07%

      Goods & Services

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.73$24.262.2%
      Beauty Salon $40.40$45.5611.3%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.39$1.288.5%
      Movie $11.77$12.133.0%
      Bowling $16.24$18.009.8%

      Groceries

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.6%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.47$4.9310.8%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $10.58$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $109.26$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $100.92$135.7825.7%
      Dentist $110.50$113.292.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.45$10.651.9%
      Lipitor $502.54$468.607.2%

      Housing

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      Home Price $64,700.00$184,700.0065.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,225.61$2,346.695.2%
      Apartment Rent $575.00$949.0039.4%

      Transportation

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.73$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.05$59.926.9%

      Utilities

      Item Sharon National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $270.68$193.9939.5%
      Phone $196.77$192.252.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Hill, OH2,0318118.6%
      Youngstown, OH64,1528218.1%
      Wheatland, PA5548218.0%
      Farrell, PA4,6348317.1%
      Maplewood Park, OH2838317.0%
      Sharon, PA13,1018316.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Black Forest, CO13,10316767.3%
      South Daytona, FL13,098955.0%
      Connersville, IN13,0967920.5%
      Coatesville, PA13,096991.1%
      Newton, NC13,106919.2%
      Sharon, PA13,1018316.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.