Baxter, IA vs Story City, IA

Baxter is moderately more affordable than Story City, with a 14.2% lower cost of living index. Baxter scores 67 compared to 78 for Story City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Story City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baxter is $693/month compared to $956/month in Story City — a 28% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Baxter is more affordable at $162,300 median vs $205,800.

Median household income in Baxter is $60,625 compared to $73,558 in Story City (-17.6%). While Story City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Baxter spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Story City.