Bagley, IA vs Elma, IA

Bagley is moderately more affordable than Elma, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Bagley scores 55 compared to 58 for Elma, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elma can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bagley is $533/month compared to $668/month in Elma — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bagley has cheaper rent, Elma actually has lower median home values ($71,400 vs $75,000).

Median household income in Bagley is $48,750 compared to $41,528 in Elma (+17.4%). Bagley offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bagley spend roughly 13.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in Elma.