Collins, IA vs Earlham, IA

Collins is moderately more affordable than Earlham, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Collins scores 70 compared to 76 for Earlham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Earlham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Collins is $883/month compared to $779/month in Earlham — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Earlham has cheaper rent, Collins actually has lower median home values ($130,700 vs $248,400).

Median household income in Collins is $67,292 compared to $104,464 in Earlham (-35.6%). While Earlham is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Collins spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, more than the 8.9% in Earlham.