Aplington, IA vs Clarion, IA

Aplington, IA and Clarion, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.9% difference in their overall index. Aplington scores 61 while Clarion scores 64 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 Aplington is $650/month compared to $764/month in Clarion — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Aplington has cheaper rent, Clarion actually has lower median home values ($107,600 vs $131,800).

Median household income in Aplington is $70,093 compared to $58,702 in Clarion (+19.4%). Aplington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Aplington spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Clarion.