Chester, IA vs Farnhamville, IA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Farnhamville, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 56 compared to 60 for Farnhamville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Farnhamville 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 $754/month in Farnhamville — a 32% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chester has cheaper rent, Farnhamville actually has lower median home values ($69,200 vs $101,800).

Median household income in Chester is $57,500 compared to $55,000 in Farnhamville (+4.5%). Chester offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 10.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16.5% in Farnhamville.