Thompson, IA vs Walnut, IA

Thompson is moderately more affordable than Walnut, with a 7.4% lower cost of living index. Thompson scores 61 compared to 66 for Walnut, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Walnut can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Thompson is $696/month compared to $844/month in Walnut — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Thompson has cheaper rent, Walnut actually has lower median home values ($97,900 vs $99,600).

Median household income in Thompson is $49,375 compared to $65,278 in Walnut (-24.4%). While Walnut is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Thompson spend roughly 16.9% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in Walnut.

Climate-wise, Walnut is notably warmer with an average of 52.4°F compared to 45.6°F in Thompson. Thompson receives more rainfall at 36.3" per year compared to 31.9" in Walnut.