Cherokee, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Cherokee is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Cherokee scores 63 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Storm Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cherokee is $707/month compared to $830/month in Storm Lake — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cherokee is more affordable at $119,400 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Cherokee is $48,693 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-16.5%). While Storm Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cherokee spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Storm Lake.