Mount Vernon, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Storm Lake is moderately more affordable than Mount Vernon, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Mount Vernon scores 77 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, 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 $830/month in Storm Lake — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Vernon has cheaper rent, Storm Lake actually has lower median home values ($163,600 vs $256,900).

Median household income in Mount Vernon is $106,356 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (+82.3%). 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 17.1% in Storm Lake.

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 Storm Lake.