Cedar Falls, IA vs Urbandale, IA

Cedar Falls is moderately more affordable than Urbandale, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Cedar Falls scores 87 compared to 94 for Urbandale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Urbandale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,177/month compared to $1,176/month in Urbandale — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Urbandale has cheaper rent, Cedar Falls actually has lower median home values ($252,500 vs $318,800).

Median household income in Cedar Falls is $74,165 compared to $113,086 in Urbandale (-34.4%). While Urbandale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cedar Falls spend roughly 19% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Urbandale.