Jefferson, IA vs Le Mars, IA

Jefferson is moderately more affordable than Le Mars, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Jefferson scores 65 compared to 76 for Le Mars, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Le Mars can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Jefferson is $745/month compared to $908/month in Le Mars — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jefferson is more affordable at $126,900 median vs $202,200.

Median household income in Jefferson is $54,286 compared to $72,381 in Le Mars (-25%). While Le Mars is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Jefferson spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, more than the 15.1% in Le Mars.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.6°F vs 48.4°F). Jefferson receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 29.3" in Le Mars.