Baldwin, IA vs Diagonal, IA

Baldwin, IA and Diagonal, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Baldwin scores 62 while Diagonal scores 64 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 Baldwin is $850/month compared to $838/month in Diagonal — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Diagonal has cheaper rent, Baldwin actually has lower median home values ($49,000 vs $84,400).

Median household income in Baldwin is $49,583 compared to $80,417 in Diagonal (-38.3%). While Diagonal is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Baldwin spend roughly 20.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Diagonal.