Boone, IA vs Spirit Lake, IA

Boone is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 69 compared to 77 for Spirit Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spirit Lake 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 $885/month in Spirit Lake — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Boone is more affordable at $156,400 median vs $218,400.

Median household income in Boone is $67,269 compared to $73,627 in Spirit Lake (-8.6%). The higher salaries in Spirit Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Boone spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 14.4% in Spirit Lake.