Marengo, IA vs Preston, IA

Marengo is moderately more affordable than Preston, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Marengo scores 63 compared to 68 for Preston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Preston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marengo is $722/month compared to $789/month in Preston — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Marengo is more affordable at $114,100 median vs $144,600.

Median household income in Marengo is $58,125 compared to $82,950 in Preston (-29.9%). While Preston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marengo spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.4% in Preston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 47.2°F). Preston receives more rainfall at 38.2" per year compared to 35.9" in Marengo.