Carter Lake, IA vs Fairfield, IA

Fairfield is moderately more affordable than Carter Lake, with a 12.5% lower cost of living index. Carter Lake scores 79 compared to 71 for Fairfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carter Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carter Lake is $1,115/month compared to $864/month in Fairfield — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairfield is more affordable at $152,900 median vs $161,200.

Median household income in Carter Lake is $75,037 compared to $48,302 in Fairfield (+55.3%). While Carter Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carter Lake spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Fairfield.