Afton, IA vs Marengo, IA

Afton is moderately more affordable than Marengo, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Afton scores 57 compared to 63 for Marengo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marengo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Afton is $564/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Afton is more affordable at $99,700 median vs $114,100.

Median household income in Afton is $57,232 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (-1.5%). Marengo 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 Afton spend roughly 11.8% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Marengo.