Shenandoah, IA vs Stuart, IA

Shenandoah is moderately more affordable than Stuart, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Shenandoah scores 64 compared to 68 for Stuart, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Stuart 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 $768/month in Stuart — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shenandoah is more affordable at $110,000 median vs $152,300.

Median household income in Shenandoah is $52,469 compared to $62,500 in Stuart (-16%). While Stuart 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 14.7% in Stuart.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.4°F vs 50.9°F). Stuart receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 31.9" in Shenandoah.