Buffalo, IA vs Dow City, IA

Buffalo, IA and Dow City, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.9% difference in their overall index. Buffalo scores 66 while Dow City scores 64 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Buffalo is $821/month compared to $714/month in Dow City — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dow City has cheaper rent, Buffalo actually has lower median home values ($120,400 vs $130,200).

Median household income in Buffalo is $74,773 compared to $46,932 in Dow City (+59.3%). While Buffalo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Buffalo spend roughly 13.2% of their income on rent, less than the 18.3% in Dow City.