Study Claims Charles City a Cheapest Iowa City to Live In

This just in. I'm not an economist. The fact that my wife has to allocate an allowance for me should tell you something. However, I have found a study from people much smarter than me that claims Charles City is one of the cheapest Iowa cities you can live in.

This is a new 2021 study from Homesnacks. It's aptly titled "Cheapest Places to Live in Iowa in 2021". Makes sense. It reveals the top 10 Iowa cities for those that watch their pennies closely.

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When you see any internet thing claiming something is better or worse or cheaper or whatever, make sure you find out what data they used to come to that conclusion. Here's what Homesnacks said they did to come to the conclusion that Charles City is more affordable than most:

We derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2015-2019 around incomes and costs. They are: Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better), Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better), Median Home Price

Isn't it interesting that the data goes back 6 years and doesn't include any 2020 data yet declares the cheapest Iowa place to live in 2021. Thanks internet for being you.

The good news is their conclusion is that Charles City is #10 in all of Iowa for affordable (or cheapest) cities.

The bad news? You'll have to scroll down to #57 to find Waterloo and even further for Cedar Falls with comes in at #75 among Iowa cheapest cities. Look at it this way. If trees removed by last summer's derecho counted, they'd be top 10.

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On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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