Essex, IA vs Meservey, IA

Meservey is moderately more affordable than Essex, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Essex scores 60 compared to 56 for Meservey, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Essex can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Essex is $681/month compared to $667/month in Meservey — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Meservey is more affordable at $54,100 median vs $87,700.

Median household income in Essex is $57,344 compared to $54,063 in Meservey (+6.1%). 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 14.8% in Meservey.