Aplington, IA vs Marengo, IA

Aplington, IA and Marengo, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Aplington scores 61 while Marengo scores 63 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 $722/month in Marengo — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Aplington has cheaper rent, Marengo actually has lower median home values ($114,100 vs $131,800).

Median household income in Aplington is $70,093 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (+20.6%). 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 14.9% in Marengo.