Garrison, IA vs Paullina, IA

Garrison is moderately more affordable than Paullina, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Garrison scores 62 compared to 66 for Paullina, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Paullina can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Garrison is $830/month compared to $810/month in Paullina — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Paullina has cheaper rent, Garrison actually has lower median home values ($65,000 vs $118,800).

Median household income in Garrison is $57,083 compared to $57,308 in Paullina (-0.4%). Paullina does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Garrison spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17% in Paullina.