Essex, IA vs Garrison, IA

Essex, IA and Garrison, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Essex scores 60 while Garrison scores 62 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 $830/month in Garrison — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Essex has cheaper rent, Garrison actually has lower median home values ($65,000 vs $87,700).

Median household income in Essex is $57,344 compared to $57,083 in Garrison (+0.5%). Essex offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Essex spend roughly 14.3% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Garrison.