Burlington, IA vs Carroll, IA

Burlington, IA and Carroll, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 70 while Carroll scores 69 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $931/month compared to $718/month in Carroll — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carroll has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($115,800 vs $184,100).

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $59,323 in Carroll (-6.8%). Carroll offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.5% in Carroll.