Mason City, IA vs Waverly, IA

Mason City is moderately more affordable than Waverly, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Mason City scores 69 compared to 76 for Waverly, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waverly can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mason City is $874/month compared to $909/month in Waverly — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mason City is more affordable at $130,000 median vs $215,200.

Median household income in Mason City is $62,369 compared to $78,429 in Waverly (-20.5%). While Waverly is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mason City spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, more than the 13.9% in Waverly.

Climate-wise, Waverly is notably warmer with an average of 49°F compared to 45.6°F in Mason City. Waverly receives more rainfall at 36.3" per year compared to 36.3" in Mason City.