Residential comparison · 13 facts
Ottumwa, IA vs Waukee, IA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Ottumwa needs about $91,500 in Waukee to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Waukee, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $78,500 in Ottumwa.
A few differences
- Waukee is higher on median household income ($101,029 vs $61,103).
- Ottumwa is lower on cost of living index (73 vs 94).
- Ottumwa is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($940/mo vs $1,467/mo).
Ottumwa vs Waukee · facet by facet
| Facet | Ottumwa, IA | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $106,300 | $350,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $940/mo | $1,467/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Sales tax | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Cost of living index | 73 | 94 |
| Groceries index | 94 | 94 |
| Utilities | $150/mo | $150/mo |
| Median household income | $61,103 | $101,029 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3% |
| Crime index | 38/100 | 38/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Ottumwa, IA · Waukee, IA
Questions & answers
- Is Ottumwa cheaper than Waukee?
- Ottumwa has the lower day-to-day cost index (73 vs 94 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Waukee equals $85,000 in Ottumwa?
- A household earning $85,000 in Ottumwa needs about $91,500 in Waukee to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Waukee lifestyle costs about $78,500 in Ottumwa.