Dayton, IA vs Malcom, IA

Dayton is moderately more affordable than Malcom, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Dayton scores 57 compared to 61 for Malcom, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Malcom can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Dayton is $542/month compared to $675/month in Malcom — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Dayton is more affordable at $106,900 median vs $110,100.

Median household income in Dayton is $67,396 compared to $73,056 in Malcom (-7.7%). While Malcom is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dayton spend roughly 9.7% of their income on rent, less than the 11.1% in Malcom.