Fayette, IA vs Osage, IA

Osage is moderately more affordable than Fayette, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Fayette scores 71 compared to 66 for Osage, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fayette is $963/month compared to $735/month in Osage — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Osage has cheaper rent, Fayette actually has lower median home values ($123,300 vs $141,800).

Median household income in Fayette is $39,297 compared to $62,309 in Osage (-36.9%). Osage offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fayette spend roughly 29.4% of their income on rent, more than the 14.2% in Osage.