Buhl, ID vs Middleton, ID

Buhl is moderately more affordable than Middleton, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Buhl scores 85 compared to 94 for Middleton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Middleton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buhl is $1,265/month compared to $1,077/month in Middleton — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Middleton has cheaper rent, Buhl actually has lower median home values ($192,600 vs $348,900).

Median household income in Buhl is $46,217 compared to $83,681 in Middleton (-44.8%). While Middleton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buhl spend roughly 32.8% of their income on rent, more than the 15.4% in Middleton. The Middleton ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.