Portsmouth, IA vs Whittemore, IA

Whittemore is moderately more affordable than Portsmouth, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Portsmouth scores 59 compared to 55 for Whittemore, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Portsmouth can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Portsmouth is $575/month compared to $508/month in Whittemore — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Whittemore is more affordable at $88,700 median vs $115,500.

Median household income in Portsmouth is $79,643 compared to $77,054 in Whittemore (+3.4%). Portsmouth does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Portsmouth spend roughly 8.7% of their income on rent, more than the 7.9% in Whittemore.

Climate-wise, Portsmouth is notably warmer with an average of 52.4°F compared to 44.6°F in Whittemore. Portsmouth receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 29.3" in Whittemore.