Alton, IA vs New Hampton, IA

Alton, IA and New Hampton, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.5% difference in their overall index. Alton scores 71 while New Hampton scores 70 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Alton is $750/month compared to $838/month in New Hampton — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alton has cheaper rent, New Hampton actually has lower median home values ($159,200 vs $204,600).

Median household income in Alton is $86,136 compared to $61,491 in New Hampton (+40.1%). 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 16.4% in New Hampton.