Grinnell, IA vs Williamsburg, IA

Williamsburg is moderately more affordable than Grinnell, with a 8.3% lower cost of living index. Grinnell scores 75 compared to 69 for Williamsburg, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Grinnell can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Grinnell is $876/month compared to $702/month in Williamsburg — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Williamsburg has cheaper rent, Grinnell actually has lower median home values ($191,700 vs $194,000).

Median household income in Grinnell is $64,426 compared to $65,607 in Williamsburg (-1.8%). Williamsburg offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Grinnell spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, more than the 12.8% in Williamsburg.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (47.7°F vs 48.3°F). Williamsburg receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 32.8" in Grinnell.