Boone, IA vs Decorah, IA

Boone is moderately more affordable than Decorah, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 69 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 Boone is $791/month compared to $788/month in Decorah — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Boone actually has lower median home values ($156,400 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Boone is $67,269 compared to $62,177 in Decorah (+8.2%). Boone offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Boone spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 15.2% in Decorah.