Irwin, IA vs Merrill, IA

Irwin is moderately more affordable than Merrill, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Irwin scores 59 compared to 62 for Merrill, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Merrill can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Irwin is $700/month compared to $581/month in Merrill — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Merrill has cheaper rent, Irwin actually has lower median home values ($71,100 vs $157,200).

Median household income in Irwin is $47,917 compared to $79,250 in Merrill (-39.5%). While Merrill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Irwin spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, more than the 8.8% in Merrill.

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