Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Frederick?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Frederick?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Frederick?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Evansville, IN versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 45% higher in Frederick, MD. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$741

$1,658

+124% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$768

$1,418

+85% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,661

+63% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,863

+60% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$365,200

+183% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$95,150

+82% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

$71,060

+53% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

53.9%

59.2%

+5.3 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

41.8%

+19.5 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

18.7 min

30.1 min

+11.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

406

+66% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

1,696.3

+54% in Evansville, IN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.4°F

52.1°F

+4.3°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Evansville, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

21.8

+20% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$18.94

+38% in Frederick, MD

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Evansville, IN

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Evansville, IN

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MD)

+1.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

6.50%

+3.5 pp in MD

Evansville vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Frederick?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Frederick?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).