Albia, IA vs Fayette, IA

Albia is moderately more affordable than Fayette, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Albia scores 67 compared to 71 for Fayette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albia is $803/month compared to $963/month in Fayette — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Albia has cheaper rent, Fayette actually has lower median home values ($123,300 vs $132,500).

Median household income in Albia is $67,791 compared to $39,297 in Fayette (+72.5%). Albia offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Albia spend roughly 14.2% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Fayette.