Arlington, IA vs Hillsboro, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Arlington is 16.4% cheaper than Hillsboro. With a cost index of 57 vs 68, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Arlington to Hillsboro should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $525/month compared to $1,063/month in Hillsboro — a 51% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arlington has cheaper rent, Hillsboro actually has lower median home values ($47,800 vs $110,900).

Median household income in Arlington is $41,250 compared to $43,125 in Hillsboro (-4.3%). Hillsboro 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 Arlington spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, less than the 29.6% in Hillsboro.