Colfax, IA vs Estherville, IA

Estherville is moderately more affordable than Colfax, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Colfax scores 71 compared to 62 for Estherville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Colfax can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Colfax is $830/month compared to $739/month in Estherville — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Estherville is more affordable at $96,300 median vs $160,500.

Median household income in Colfax is $82,878 compared to $54,624 in Estherville (+51.7%). While Colfax is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Colfax spend roughly 12% of their income on rent, less than the 16.2% in Estherville.