Storm Lake, IA vs Waukon, IA

Waukon is moderately more affordable than Storm Lake, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Storm Lake scores 70 compared to 65 for Waukon, 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 Storm Lake is $830/month compared to $719/month in Waukon — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukon is more affordable at $133,700 median vs $163,600.

Median household income in Storm Lake is $58,341 compared to $56,250 in Waukon (+3.7%). Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, more than the 15.3% in Waukon.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.8°F vs 48.1°F). Waukon receives more rainfall at 33.9" per year compared to 26.8" in Storm Lake.