Marion, IA vs Waterloo, IA

Waterloo is moderately more affordable than Marion, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Marion scores 80 compared to 70 for Waterloo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marion can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marion is $978/month compared to $896/month in Waterloo — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $150,200 median vs $230,800.

Median household income in Marion is $87,105 compared to $56,344 in Waterloo (+54.6%). While Marion is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marion spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waterloo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 49°F). Waterloo receives more rainfall at 36.3" per year compared to 35.9" in Marion.