Hiawatha, IA vs Indianola, IA

Hiawatha is moderately more affordable than Indianola, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Hiawatha scores 74 compared to 80 for Indianola, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Indianola can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hiawatha is $846/month compared to $966/month in Indianola — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hiawatha is more affordable at $210,200 median vs $228,100.

Median household income in Hiawatha is $67,628 compared to $78,125 in Indianola (-13.4%). While Indianola is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hiawatha spend roughly 15% of their income on rent, more than the 14.8% in Indianola.

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