Benkelman, NE vs Fairfield, NE

Benkelman is moderately more affordable than Fairfield, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Benkelman scores 56 compared to 64 for Fairfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fairfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Benkelman is $580/month compared to $713/month in Fairfield — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Benkelman is more affordable at $84,800 median vs $122,500.

Median household income in Benkelman is $42,500 compared to $59,500 in Fairfield (-28.6%). While Fairfield is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Benkelman spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in Fairfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 51.9°F). Fairfield receives more rainfall at 26.4" per year compared to 17.5" in Benkelman.