Brighton, IA vs Wapello, IA

Brighton is moderately more affordable than Wapello, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Brighton scores 61 compared to 64 for Wapello, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wapello 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 $707/month in Wapello — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Brighton is more affordable at $87,700 median vs $128,800.

Median household income in Brighton is $55,000 compared to $71,131 in Wapello (-22.7%). While Wapello 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 11.9% in Wapello.