Denison, IA vs Story City, IA

Denison is moderately more affordable than Story City, with a 14.7% lower cost of living index. Denison scores 66 compared to 78 for Story City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Story City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Denison is $770/month compared to $956/month in Story City — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Denison is more affordable at $137,600 median vs $205,800.

Median household income in Denison is $63,850 compared to $73,558 in Story City (-13.2%). The higher salaries in Story City partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Denison spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, less than the 15.6% in Story City.