Malcom, IA vs Riceville, IA

Malcom is moderately more affordable than Riceville, with a 12.6% lower cost of living index. Malcom scores 61 compared to 70 for Riceville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Riceville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Malcom is $675/month compared to $1,016/month in Riceville — a 34% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Malcom has cheaper rent, Riceville actually has lower median home values ($92,100 vs $110,100).

Median household income in Malcom is $73,056 compared to $47,434 in Riceville (+54%). Malcom offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Malcom spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Riceville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (47.7°F vs 44.8°F). Riceville receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 32.8" in Malcom.