Hawarden, IA vs Hiawatha, IA

Hawarden is moderately more affordable than Hiawatha, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Hawarden scores 68 compared to 74 for Hiawatha, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hiawatha can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hawarden is $881/month compared to $846/month in Hiawatha — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hiawatha has cheaper rent, Hawarden actually has lower median home values ($132,700 vs $210,200).

Median household income in Hawarden is $69,375 compared to $67,628 in Hiawatha (+2.6%). Hawarden offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Hawarden spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 15% in Hiawatha.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (47.4°F vs 48.3°F). Hiawatha receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 27.8" in Hawarden.