Decorah, IA vs Grundy Center, IA

Grundy Center is moderately more affordable than Decorah, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Decorah scores 75 compared to 66 for Grundy Center, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decorah can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Decorah is $788/month compared to $684/month in Grundy Center — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Grundy Center is more affordable at $173,200 median vs $234,600.

Median household income in Decorah is $62,177 compared to $77,540 in Grundy Center (-19.8%). Grundy Center offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Decorah spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.6% in Grundy Center.