Decorah, IA vs Jesup, IA

Decorah, IA and Jesup, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Decorah scores 75 while Jesup scores 75 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 Decorah is $788/month compared to $937/month in Jesup — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Jesup actually has lower median home values ($189,600 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Decorah is $62,177 compared to $89,297 in Jesup (-30.4%). Jesup 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 12.6% in Jesup.