Fredericksburg, IA vs Menlo, IA

Fredericksburg is moderately more affordable than Menlo, with a 9.4% lower cost of living index. Fredericksburg scores 67 compared to 74 for Menlo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Menlo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fredericksburg is $750/month compared to $1,078/month in Menlo — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fredericksburg has cheaper rent, Menlo actually has lower median home values ($107,100 vs $164,100).

Median household income in Fredericksburg is $65,809 compared to $78,333 in Menlo (-16%). While Menlo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fredericksburg spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16.5% in Menlo.