Newton, IA vs Spirit Lake, IA

Newton is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 8.6% lower cost of living index. Newton scores 70 compared to 77 for Spirit Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spirit Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Newton is $828/month compared to $885/month in Spirit Lake — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Newton is more affordable at $151,600 median vs $218,400.

Median household income in Newton is $56,321 compared to $73,627 in Spirit Lake (-23.5%). While Spirit Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Newton spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in Spirit Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.5°F vs 46.8°F). Newton receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 26.8" in Spirit Lake.