Chariton, IA vs Fairbank, IA

Chariton is moderately more affordable than Fairbank, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Chariton scores 60 compared to 64 for Fairbank, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fairbank can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chariton is $716/month compared to $630/month in Fairbank — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairbank has cheaper rent, Chariton actually has lower median home values ($84,200 vs $173,200).

Median household income in Chariton is $52,109 compared to $100,172 in Fairbank (-48%). While Fairbank is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chariton spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, more than the 7.5% in Fairbank.