Aplington, IA vs Fort Atkinson, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Aplington is 20.4% cheaper than Fort Atkinson. With a cost index of 61 vs 77, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Aplington to Fort Atkinson should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Aplington is $650/month compared to $1,125/month in Fort Atkinson — a 42% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Aplington is more affordable at $131,800 median vs $135,000.

Median household income in Aplington is $70,093 compared to $72,083 in Fort Atkinson (-2.8%). Fort Atkinson does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Aplington spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in Fort Atkinson.