Mason City, IL vs Metropolis, IL

Metropolis is moderately more affordable than Mason City, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Mason City scores 65 compared to 60 for Metropolis, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mason City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mason City is $785/month compared to $748/month in Metropolis — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Metropolis has cheaper rent, Mason City actually has lower median home values ($92,200 vs $93,700).

Median household income in Mason City is $64,250 compared to $51,548 in Metropolis (+24.6%). While Mason City 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 14.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Metropolis.

Climate-wise, Metropolis is notably warmer with an average of 58.8°F compared to 54°F in Mason City. Metropolis receives more rainfall at 50.3" per year compared to 38" in Mason City.