Bloomfield, IA vs Decorah, IA

Bloomfield is moderately more affordable than Decorah, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Bloomfield scores 70 compared to 75 for Decorah, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decorah can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomfield is $918/month compared to $788/month in Decorah — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Bloomfield actually has lower median home values ($122,600 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Bloomfield is $61,679 compared to $62,177 in Decorah (-0.8%). Decorah 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 Bloomfield spend roughly 17.9% of their income on rent, more than the 15.2% in Decorah.