| Index | Dayton | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 82 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 51 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 90 | 94 | 100 |

| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $108,686 | $9,057 | $2,536 | $3,261 |
| Renters | $34,481 | $2,873 | $805 | $1,035 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Dana, IA | 23 | 70 | 29.9% |
| Lehigh, IA | 412 | 77 | 22.7% |
| Paton, IA | 184 | 77 | 22.5% |
| Pilot Mound, IA | 164 | 78 | 22.5% |
| Moorland, IA | 160 | 78 | 22.3% |
| Dayton, IA | 860 | 82 | 18.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Pendergrass, GA | 860 | 102 | 2.1% |
| Rockford, IA | 860 | 83 | 16.7% |
| Ashton, IL | 860 | 89 | 11.5% |
| Ridgway, IL | 860 | 80 | 19.7% |
| Annville, KY | 860 | 85 | 15.3% |
| Dayton, IA | 860 | 82 | 18.4% |