Estherville, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Estherville is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Estherville scores 62 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Storm Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Estherville is $739/month compared to $830/month in Storm Lake — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Estherville is more affordable at $96,300 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Estherville is $54,624 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-6.4%). The higher salaries in Storm Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Estherville spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.1% in Storm Lake.