Essex, IA vs Irwin, IA

Essex, IA and Irwin, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Essex scores 60 while Irwin scores 59 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 $700/month in Irwin — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Essex has cheaper rent, Irwin actually has lower median home values ($71,100 vs $87,700).

Median household income in Essex is $57,344 compared to $47,917 in Irwin (+19.7%). 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 17.5% in Irwin.