Creston, IA vs Tama, IA

Creston, IA and Tama, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Creston scores 61 while Tama scores 63 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 Creston is $672/month compared to $744/month in Tama — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Creston has cheaper rent, Tama actually has lower median home values ($101,200 vs $112,600).

Median household income in Creston is $50,752 compared to $61,944 in Tama (-18.1%). While Tama is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Creston spend roughly 15.9% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in Tama.