Palo, IA vs Worthington, IA

The cost of living difference between Palo, IA and Worthington, IA is dramatic. Worthington is 41.5% cheaper than Palo, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Palo has a cost index of 86 while Worthington sits at 61, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Palo is $1,063/month compared to $575/month in Worthington — a 85% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Worthington is more affordable at $150,500 median vs $274,200.

Median household income in Palo is $103,646 compared to $81,875 in Worthington (+26.6%). The higher salaries in Palo partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Palo spend roughly 12.3% of their income on rent, more than the 8.4% in Worthington.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 47.2°F). Worthington receives more rainfall at 38.2" per year compared to 35.9" in Palo.