Barnes City, IA vs Elliott, IA

Barnes City, IA and Elliott, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Barnes City scores 64 while Elliott scores 63 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 Barnes City is $800/month compared to $840/month in Elliott — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Barnes City has cheaper rent, Elliott actually has lower median home values ($68,100 vs $100,000).

Median household income in Barnes City is $47,813 compared to $65,357 in Elliott (-26.8%). Elliott offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Barnes City spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 15.4% in Elliott.