Boone, IA vs Hiawatha, IA

Boone is moderately more affordable than Hiawatha, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 69 compared to 74 for Hiawatha, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hiawatha 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 $846/month in Hiawatha — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Boone is more affordable at $156,400 median vs $210,200.

Median household income in Boone is $67,269 compared to $67,628 in Hiawatha (-0.5%). Hiawatha 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 Boone spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 15% in Hiawatha.