Le Mars, IA vs Ottumwa, IA

Ottumwa is moderately more affordable than Le Mars, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Le Mars scores 76 compared to 68 for Ottumwa, 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 $956/month in Ottumwa — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Le Mars has cheaper rent, Ottumwa actually has lower median home values ($92,400 vs $202,200).

Median household income in Le Mars is $72,381 compared to $56,994 in Ottumwa (+27%). 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 20.1% in Ottumwa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.4°F vs 50.7°F). Ottumwa receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 29.3" in Le Mars.