Decorah, IA vs Tipton, IA

Tipton is moderately more affordable than Decorah, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Decorah scores 75 compared to 69 for Tipton, 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 $823/month in Tipton — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decorah has cheaper rent, Tipton actually has lower median home values ($146,000 vs $234,600).

Median household income in Decorah is $62,177 compared to $67,625 in Tipton (-8.1%). Tipton 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 14.6% in Tipton.