Portland, IN vs Waterloo, IN

Portland is moderately more affordable than Waterloo, with a 7.1% lower cost of living index. Portland scores 62 compared to 67 for Waterloo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waterloo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Portland is $722/month compared to $829/month in Waterloo — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Portland is more affordable at $90,600 median vs $108,600.

Median household income in Portland is $45,431 compared to $61,375 in Waterloo (-26%). While Waterloo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Portland spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, more than the 16.2% in Waterloo.