Charles City, IA vs Clarion, IA

Charles City is moderately more affordable than Clarion, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Charles City scores 61 compared to 64 for Clarion, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Clarion can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charles City is $628/month compared to $764/month in Clarion — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charles City has cheaper rent, Clarion actually has lower median home values ($107,600 vs $118,900).

Median household income in Charles City is $56,734 compared to $58,702 in Clarion (-3.4%). The higher salaries in Clarion partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Charles City spend roughly 13.3% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Clarion.