Eldon, IA vs Northwood, IA

Eldon is moderately more affordable than Northwood, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Eldon scores 56 compared to 60 for Northwood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Northwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Eldon is $650/month compared to $583/month in Northwood — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Northwood has cheaper rent, Eldon actually has lower median home values ($57,600 vs $124,800).

Median household income in Eldon is $52,813 compared to $64,615 in Northwood (-18.3%). While Northwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Eldon spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, more than the 10.8% in Northwood.