Glenwood, IA vs Mount Ayr, IA

Mount Ayr is moderately more affordable than Glenwood, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Glenwood scores 74 compared to 65 for Mount Ayr, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Glenwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Glenwood is $842/month compared to $694/month in Mount Ayr — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mount Ayr is more affordable at $144,500 median vs $193,800.

Median household income in Glenwood is $69,320 compared to $68,676 in Mount Ayr (+0.9%). Glenwood does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Glenwood spend roughly 14.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12.1% in Mount Ayr.