Lamoni, IA vs Shelby, IA

Lamoni is moderately more affordable than Shelby, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Lamoni scores 61 compared to 72 for Shelby, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Shelby can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lamoni is $676/month compared to $872/month in Shelby — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lamoni is more affordable at $107,900 median vs $156,300.

Median household income in Lamoni is $52,300 compared to $60,333 in Shelby (-13.3%). The higher salaries in Shelby partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lamoni spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Shelby.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.6°F vs 52.4°F). Lamoni receives more rainfall at 37.4" per year compared to 31.9" in Shelby.