Essex, IA vs Fenton, IA

Essex, IA and Fenton, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Essex scores 60 while Fenton scores 58 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 Essex is $681/month compared to $710/month in Fenton — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Essex has cheaper rent, Fenton actually has lower median home values ($52,400 vs $87,700).

Median household income in Essex is $57,344 compared to $53,125 in Fenton (+7.9%). While Essex is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Essex spend roughly 14.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16% in Fenton.