Alta, IA vs Estherville, IA

Estherville is moderately more affordable than Alta, with a 12.5% lower cost of living index. Alta scores 70 compared to 62 for Estherville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alta can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alta is $915/month compared to $739/month in Estherville — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Estherville is more affordable at $96,300 median vs $125,800.

Median household income in Alta is $66,118 compared to $54,624 in Estherville (+21%). While Alta is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alta spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.2% in Estherville.