Guthrie Center, IA vs Mount Vernon, IA

Guthrie Center is moderately more affordable than Mount Vernon, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Guthrie Center scores 68 compared to 77 for Mount Vernon, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mount Vernon can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Guthrie Center is $839/month compared to $802/month in Mount Vernon — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Vernon has cheaper rent, Guthrie Center actually has lower median home values ($117,100 vs $256,900).

Median household income in Guthrie Center is $67,679 compared to $106,356 in Mount Vernon (-36.4%). While Mount Vernon is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Guthrie Center spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, more than the 9% in Mount Vernon.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 48.3°F). Guthrie Center receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 35.9" in Mount Vernon.