Alton, IA vs Earling, IA

Earling is moderately more affordable than Alton, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Alton scores 71 compared to 64 for Earling, 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 $731/month in Earling — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Earling is more affordable at $117,600 median vs $204,600.

Median household income in Alton is $86,136 compared to $44,375 in Earling (+94.1%). 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 19.8% in Earling.