Alton, IA vs Cresco, IA

Cresco is moderately more affordable than Alton, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Alton scores 71 compared to 65 for Cresco, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alton is $750/month compared to $814/month in Cresco — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alton has cheaper rent, Cresco actually has lower median home values ($105,200 vs $204,600).

Median household income in Alton is $86,136 compared to $60,769 in Cresco (+41.7%). While Alton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alton spend roughly 10.4% of their income on rent, less than the 16.1% in Cresco.