Baxter, IA vs Scranton, IA

Scranton is moderately more affordable than Baxter, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Baxter scores 67 compared to 63 for Scranton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Baxter 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 $880/month in Scranton — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Baxter has cheaper rent, Scranton actually has lower median home values ($58,600 vs $162,300).

Median household income in Baxter is $60,625 compared to $60,000 in Scranton (+1%). Baxter 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 17.6% in Scranton.