Griswold, IA vs Marengo, IA

Marengo is moderately more affordable than Griswold, with a 8.5% lower cost of living index. Griswold scores 68 compared to 63 for Marengo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Griswold can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Griswold is $937/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Marengo has cheaper rent, Griswold actually has lower median home values ($89,400 vs $114,100).

Median household income in Griswold is $61,167 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (+5.2%). The higher salaries in Griswold partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Griswold spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, more than the 14.9% in Marengo.

Climate-wise, Griswold is notably warmer with an average of 52.4°F compared to 48.3°F in Marengo. Marengo receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 31.9" in Griswold.