Mount Vernon, IA vs Spencer, IA

Spencer is moderately more affordable than Mount Vernon, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Mount Vernon scores 77 compared to 71 for Spencer, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mount Vernon can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mount Vernon is $802/month compared to $795/month in Spencer — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Spencer is more affordable at $178,300 median vs $256,900.

Median household income in Mount Vernon is $106,356 compared to $57,068 in Spencer (+86.4%). While Mount Vernon is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mount Vernon spend roughly 9% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Spencer.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 46.8°F). Mount Vernon receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 26.8" in Spencer.