Ida Grove, IA vs Red Oak, IA

Ida Grove is moderately more affordable than Red Oak, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Ida Grove scores 60 compared to 63 for Red Oak, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Red Oak can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ida Grove is $671/month compared to $768/month in Red Oak — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ida Grove has cheaper rent, Red Oak actually has lower median home values ($91,600 vs $96,000).

Median household income in Ida Grove is $63,194 compared to $52,996 in Red Oak (+19.2%). Ida Grove offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ida Grove spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Red Oak.

Climate-wise, Red Oak is notably warmer with an average of 52.4°F compared to 48.4°F in Ida Grove. Red Oak receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 29.3" in Ida Grove.