Burlington, IA vs Spencer, IA

Burlington, IA and Spencer, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 70 while Spencer 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 $795/month in Spencer — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Spencer has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($115,800 vs $178,300).

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $57,068 in Spencer (-3.1%). While Spencer is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in Spencer.