Barnum, IA vs Rockford, IA

Barnum is moderately more affordable than Rockford, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Barnum scores 58 compared to 63 for Rockford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rockford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Barnum is $495/month compared to $779/month in Rockford — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Barnum has cheaper rent, Rockford actually has lower median home values ($90,200 vs $132,500).

Median household income in Barnum is $83,580 compared to $62,759 in Rockford (+33.2%). Barnum offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Barnum spend roughly 7.1% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Rockford.