Burlington, IA vs Denison, IA

Burlington, IA and Denison, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.7% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 70 while Denison scores 66 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 $770/month in Denison — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Denison has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($115,800 vs $137,600).

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $63,850 in Denison (-13.4%). Denison 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 Denison.