Ottawa, KS vs Paola, KS

Ottawa is moderately more affordable than Paola, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Ottawa scores 74 compared to 81 for Paola, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Paola can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ottawa is $949/month compared to $1,069/month in Paola — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottawa is more affordable at $165,700 median vs $195,000.

Median household income in Ottawa is $64,655 compared to $73,281 in Paola (-11.8%). While Paola is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ottawa spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, more than the 17.5% in Paola.