Elgin, IA vs Pierson, IA

Elgin, IA and Pierson, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Elgin scores 58 while Pierson scores 57 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Elgin is $634/month compared to $644/month in Pierson — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elgin has cheaper rent, Pierson actually has lower median home values ($85,300 vs $87,300).

Median household income in Elgin is $60,114 compared to $56,563 in Pierson (+6.3%). While Elgin is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elgin spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 13.7% in Pierson.