Garden City, ID vs Middleton, ID

Middleton is moderately more affordable than Garden City, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Garden City scores 103 compared to 94 for Middleton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Garden City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Garden City is $1,206/month compared to $1,077/month in Middleton — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Middleton is more affordable at $348,900 median vs $411,400.

Median household income in Garden City is $66,859 compared to $83,681 in Middleton (-20.1%). Middleton offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Garden City spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, more than the 15.4% in Middleton.