Harlan, IA vs Mount Ayr, IA

Mount Ayr is moderately more affordable than Harlan, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Harlan scores 69 compared to 65 for Mount Ayr, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Harlan can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Harlan is $856/month compared to $694/month in Mount Ayr — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Ayr has cheaper rent, Harlan actually has lower median home values ($137,500 vs $144,500).

Median household income in Harlan is $54,923 compared to $68,676 in Mount Ayr (-20%). Mount Ayr offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Harlan spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, more than the 12.1% in Mount Ayr.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.4°F vs 51.6°F). Mount Ayr receives more rainfall at 37.4" per year compared to 31.9" in Harlan.