Neola, IA vs Runnells, IA

Runnells is moderately more affordable than Neola, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Neola scores 76 compared to 71 for Runnells, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Neola can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Neola is $994/month compared to $725/month in Runnells — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Runnells has cheaper rent, Neola actually has lower median home values ($166,400 vs $196,900).

Median household income in Neola is $68,859 compared to $98,125 in Runnells (-29.8%). Runnells offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Neola spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, more than the 8.9% in Runnells.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.4°F vs 49.5°F). Runnells receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 31.9" in Neola.