Barnes City, IA vs Lime Springs, IA

Lime Springs is moderately more affordable than Barnes City, with a 6.9% lower cost of living index. Barnes City scores 64 compared to 60 for Lime Springs, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Barnes City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Barnes City is $800/month compared to $658/month in Lime Springs — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lime Springs has cheaper rent, Barnes City actually has lower median home values ($100,000 vs $101,900).

Median household income in Barnes City is $47,813 compared to $62,083 in Lime Springs (-23%). Lime Springs 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 12.7% in Lime Springs.