Chester, IA vs Elliott, IA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Elliott, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 56 compared to 63 for Elliott, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elliott can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $513/month compared to $840/month in Elliott — a 39% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chester has cheaper rent, Elliott actually has lower median home values ($68,100 vs $101,800).

Median household income in Chester is $57,500 compared to $65,357 in Elliott (-12%). The higher salaries in Elliott partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 10.7% of their income on rent, less than the 15.4% in Elliott.