Atkinson, NE vs Wauneta, NE

Wauneta is moderately more affordable than Atkinson, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Atkinson scores 64 compared to 58 for Wauneta, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Atkinson can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Atkinson is $655/month compared to $642/month in Wauneta — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wauneta is more affordable at $86,300 median vs $147,600.

Median household income in Atkinson is $72,857 compared to $46,518 in Wauneta (+56.6%). While Atkinson is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atkinson spend roughly 10.8% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in Wauneta.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49°F vs 51.3°F). Atkinson receives more rainfall at 23.8" per year compared to 17.5" in Wauneta.