Fairfield, IA vs Story City, IA

Fairfield is moderately more affordable than Story City, with a 9.4% lower cost of living index. Fairfield scores 71 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 Fairfield is $864/month compared to $956/month in Story City — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairfield is more affordable at $152,900 median vs $205,800.

Median household income in Fairfield is $48,302 compared to $73,558 in Story City (-34.3%). While Story City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfield spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 15.6% in Story City.