Atalissa, IA vs Essex, IA

Essex is moderately more affordable than Atalissa, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Atalissa scores 65 compared to 60 for Essex, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Atalissa can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Atalissa is $738/month compared to $681/month in Essex — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Essex is more affordable at $87,700 median vs $130,900.

Median household income in Atalissa is $69,250 compared to $57,344 in Essex (+20.8%). While Atalissa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atalissa spend roughly 12.8% of their income on rent, less than the 14.3% in Essex.