Buffalo Center, IA vs Chelsea, IA

Chelsea is moderately more affordable than Buffalo Center, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Buffalo Center scores 59 compared to 56 for Chelsea, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Buffalo Center can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buffalo Center is $646/month compared to $681/month in Chelsea — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Buffalo Center has cheaper rent, Chelsea actually has lower median home values ($43,100 vs $93,800).

Median household income in Buffalo Center is $49,474 compared to $32,188 in Chelsea (+53.7%). While Buffalo Center is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buffalo Center spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 25.4% in Chelsea.