Estherville, IA vs Lamoni, IA

Estherville, IA and Lamoni, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.6% difference in their overall index. Estherville scores 62 while Lamoni scores 61 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 Estherville is $739/month compared to $676/month in Lamoni — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lamoni has cheaper rent, Estherville actually has lower median home values ($96,300 vs $107,900).

Median household income in Estherville is $54,624 compared to $52,300 in Lamoni (+4.4%). While Estherville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Estherville spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in Lamoni.