Emmetsburg, IA vs Walnut, IA

Emmetsburg is moderately more affordable than Walnut, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Emmetsburg scores 59 compared to 66 for Walnut, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Walnut can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Emmetsburg is $589/month compared to $844/month in Walnut — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Emmetsburg has cheaper rent, Walnut actually has lower median home values ($97,900 vs $114,600).

Median household income in Emmetsburg is $57,353 compared to $65,278 in Walnut (-12.1%). While Walnut is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Emmetsburg spend roughly 12.3% of their income on rent, less than the 15.5% in Walnut.