Ackley, IA vs Thornton, IA

Ackley is moderately more affordable than Thornton, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Ackley scores 59 compared to 63 for Thornton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Thornton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ackley is $677/month compared to $775/month in Thornton — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ackley has cheaper rent, Thornton actually has lower median home values ($99,000 vs $99,200).

Median household income in Ackley is $61,667 compared to $66,979 in Thornton (-7.9%). While Thornton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ackley spend roughly 13.2% of their income on rent, less than the 13.9% in Thornton.