Jefferson, IA vs Roland, IA

Jefferson is moderately more affordable than Roland, with a 13.9% lower cost of living index. Jefferson scores 65 compared to 76 for Roland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Roland 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 $983/month in Roland — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jefferson is more affordable at $126,900 median vs $173,100.

Median household income in Jefferson is $54,286 compared to $84,779 in Roland (-36%). While Roland 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 13.9% in Roland.

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