Ottumwa, IA vs Waverly, IA

Ottumwa is moderately more affordable than Waverly, with a 10% lower cost of living index. Ottumwa scores 68 compared to 76 for Waverly, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waverly can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ottumwa is $956/month compared to $909/month in Waverly — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waverly has cheaper rent, Ottumwa actually has lower median home values ($92,400 vs $215,200).

Median household income in Ottumwa is $56,994 compared to $78,429 in Waverly (-27.3%). While Waverly is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ottumwa spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.9% in Waverly.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.7°F vs 49°F). Ottumwa receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 36.3" in Waverly.