Jefferson, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Jefferson is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Jefferson scores 65 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Storm Lake 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 $830/month in Storm Lake — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jefferson is more affordable at $126,900 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Jefferson is $54,286 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-7%). The higher salaries in Storm Lake 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 17.1% in Storm Lake.

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 Storm Lake.