Le Mars, IA vs Mason City, IA

Mason City is moderately more affordable than Le Mars, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Le Mars scores 76 compared to 69 for Mason City, 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 Le Mars is $908/month compared to $874/month in Mason City — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mason City is more affordable at $130,000 median vs $202,200.

Median household income in Le Mars is $72,381 compared to $62,369 in Mason City (+16.1%). 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 Le Mars spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 16.8% in Mason City.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.4°F vs 45.6°F). Mason City receives more rainfall at 36.3" per year compared to 29.3" in Le Mars.