Oskaloosa, IA vs Ottumwa, IA

Oskaloosa, IA and Ottumwa, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Oskaloosa scores 69 while Ottumwa scores 68 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Oskaloosa is $880/month compared to $956/month in Ottumwa — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Oskaloosa has cheaper rent, Ottumwa actually has lower median home values ($92,400 vs $128,900).

Median household income in Oskaloosa is $62,172 compared to $56,994 in Ottumwa (+9.1%). While Oskaloosa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oskaloosa spend roughly 17% of their income on rent, less than the 20.1% in Ottumwa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.7°F vs 50.7°F). Ottumwa receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 37" in Oskaloosa.