Onawa, IA vs Preston, IA

Preston is moderately more affordable than Onawa, with a 7.4% lower cost of living index. Onawa scores 73 compared to 68 for Preston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Onawa can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Onawa is $1,005/month compared to $789/month in Preston — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Preston has cheaper rent, Onawa actually has lower median home values ($125,700 vs $144,600).

Median household income in Onawa is $54,659 compared to $82,950 in Preston (-34.1%). Preston offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Onawa spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 11.4% in Preston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.1°F vs 47.2°F). Preston receives more rainfall at 38.2" per year compared to 28.3" in Onawa.