Earlham, IA vs West Liberty, IA

West Liberty is moderately more affordable than Earlham, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Earlham scores 76 compared to 72 for West Liberty, 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 Earlham is $779/month compared to $871/month in West Liberty — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Earlham has cheaper rent, West Liberty actually has lower median home values ($169,500 vs $248,400).

Median household income in Earlham is $104,464 compared to $66,132 in West Liberty (+58%). 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 Earlham spend roughly 8.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.8% in West Liberty.