Burlington, IA vs Fairfield, IA

Burlington, IA and Fairfield, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 70 while Fairfield scores 71 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 $864/month in Fairfield — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairfield has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($115,800 vs $152,900).

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $48,302 in Fairfield (+14.4%). Burlington 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, less than the 21.5% in Fairfield.