Evansdale, IA vs Shell Rock, IA

Shell Rock is moderately more affordable than Evansdale, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Evansdale scores 71 compared to 67 for Shell Rock, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Evansdale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Evansdale is $945/month compared to $750/month in Shell Rock — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shell Rock has cheaper rent, Evansdale actually has lower median home values ($138,200 vs $159,100).

Median household income in Evansdale is $57,415 compared to $70,556 in Shell Rock (-18.6%). Shell Rock offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Evansdale spend roughly 19.8% of their income on rent, more than the 12.8% in Shell Rock.