Indianola, IA vs Urbandale, IA

Indianola is moderately more affordable than Urbandale, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Indianola scores 80 compared to 94 for Urbandale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Urbandale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Indianola is $966/month compared to $1,176/month in Urbandale — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Indianola is more affordable at $228,100 median vs $318,800.

Median household income in Indianola is $78,125 compared to $113,086 in Urbandale (-30.9%). While Urbandale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Indianola spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Urbandale.

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