Baxter, IA vs New Hampton, IA

Baxter is moderately more affordable than New Hampton, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Baxter scores 67 compared to 70 for New Hampton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of New Hampton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baxter is $693/month compared to $838/month in New Hampton — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Baxter has cheaper rent, New Hampton actually has lower median home values ($159,200 vs $162,300).

Median household income in Baxter is $60,625 compared to $61,491 in New Hampton (-1.4%). New Hampton does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Baxter spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16.4% in New Hampton.