| Index | Thornton | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 82 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 49 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 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 | $79,732 | $6,644 | $1,860 | $2,392 |
| Renters | $74,833 | $6,236 | $1,746 | $2,245 |
| 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. |
| Portland, IA | 29 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Burchinal, IA | 20 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Goodell, IA | 116 | 74 | 26.5% |
| Alexander, IA | 166 | 75 | 24.6% |
| Rowan, IA | 161 | 76 | 24.3% |
| Thornton, IA | 486 | 82 | 18.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Courtland, CA | 486 | 184 | 84.3% |
| Cowan, CA | 486 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Richfield, ID | 486 | 91 | 8.8% |
| Norwood, IL | 486 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Glasco, KS | 486 | 80 | 20.5% |
| Thornton, IA | 486 | 82 | 18.0% |