Shenandoah, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Shenandoah is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Shenandoah scores 64 compared to 70 for Storm Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Storm Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Shenandoah is $762/month compared to $830/month in Storm Lake — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shenandoah is more affordable at $110,000 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Shenandoah is $52,469 compared to $58,341 in Storm Lake (-10.1%). While Storm Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Shenandoah spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Storm Lake.

Climate-wise, Shenandoah is notably warmer with an average of 52.4°F compared to 46.8°F in Storm Lake. Shenandoah receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 26.8" in Storm Lake.