Charles City, IA vs Spencer, IA

Charles City is moderately more affordable than Spencer, with a 14.1% lower cost of living index. Charles City scores 61 compared to 71 for Spencer, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spencer 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 $795/month in Spencer — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Charles City is more affordable at $118,900 median vs $178,300.

Median household income in Charles City is $56,734 compared to $57,068 in Spencer (-0.6%). Spencer 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 Charles City spend roughly 13.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Spencer.