Brighton, IA vs Crystal Lake, IA

Brighton is moderately more affordable than Crystal Lake, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Brighton scores 61 compared to 64 for Crystal Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Crystal Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Brighton is $698/month compared to $830/month in Crystal Lake — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Brighton has cheaper rent, Crystal Lake actually has lower median home values ($86,000 vs $87,700).

Median household income in Brighton is $55,000 compared to $82,500 in Crystal Lake (-33.3%). While Crystal Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Brighton spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 12.1% in Crystal Lake.