Arthur, IA vs Essex, IA

Arthur is moderately more affordable than Essex, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Arthur scores 56 compared to 60 for Essex, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Essex can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arthur is $630/month compared to $681/month in Essex — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Arthur is more affordable at $65,000 median vs $87,700.

Median household income in Arthur is $53,750 compared to $57,344 in Essex (-6.3%). While Essex is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arthur spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 14.3% in Essex.