Earlham, IA vs Rock Valley, IA

Earlham is moderately more affordable than Rock Valley, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Earlham scores 76 compared to 83 for Rock Valley, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rock Valley can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Earlham is $779/month compared to $1,070/month in Rock Valley — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Earlham has cheaper rent, Rock Valley actually has lower median home values ($225,800 vs $248,400).

Median household income in Earlham is $104,464 compared to $67,012 in Rock Valley (+55.9%). Earlham offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Earlham spend roughly 8.9% of their income on rent, less than the 19.2% in Rock Valley.