Elgin, IA vs Garrison, IA

Elgin is moderately more affordable than Garrison, with a 6.1% lower cost of living index. Elgin scores 58 compared to 62 for Garrison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Garrison can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elgin is $634/month compared to $830/month in Garrison — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elgin has cheaper rent, Garrison actually has lower median home values ($65,000 vs $87,300).

Median household income in Elgin is $60,114 compared to $57,083 in Garrison (+5.3%). Elgin offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Elgin spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Garrison.