Rock Rapids, IA vs St. Charles, IA

Rock Rapids is moderately more affordable than St. Charles, with a 6.6% lower cost of living index. Rock Rapids scores 72 compared to 77 for St. Charles, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Charles can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Rock Rapids is $763/month compared to $939/month in St. Charles — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Rock Rapids has cheaper rent, St. Charles actually has lower median home values ($197,100 vs $207,700).

Median household income in Rock Rapids is $61,679 compared to $81,944 in St. Charles (-24.7%). While St. Charles is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Rock Rapids spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, more than the 13.8% in St. Charles.

Climate-wise, St. Charles is notably warmer with an average of 50.9°F compared to 47.4°F in Rock Rapids. St. Charles receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 27.8" in Rock Rapids.