Jefferson, IA vs Spencer, IA

Jefferson is moderately more affordable than Spencer, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Jefferson scores 65 compared to 71 for Spencer, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spencer 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 $795/month in Spencer — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jefferson is more affordable at $126,900 median vs $178,300.

Median household income in Jefferson is $54,286 compared to $57,068 in Spencer (-4.9%). The higher salaries in Spencer partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Jefferson spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Spencer.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.6°F vs 46.8°F). Jefferson receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 26.8" in Spencer.