Winterset, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Winterset, IA Summary

Cost of living in Winterset research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Winterset is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Winterset is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Winterset is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Winterset ranks as the #36 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Winterset ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Winterset is $291,985.

  • The median income in Winterset is $69,268.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Winterset's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Winterset, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Winterset has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Winterset has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.

The standard of living in Winterset ranks as #36 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Winterset ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Winterset, check out:

36 out of 85
In Iowa
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Winterset Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Winterset. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Winterset is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Winterset is 100.

  • The Health index in Winterset is 92.

  • The Housing index in Winterset is 84.

  • The Transportation index in Winterset is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Winterset is 89.

Living Expense Winterset Iowa National Average
Overall 89 90 100
Services 93 96 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 92 99 100
Housing 84 75 100
Transportation 93 99 100
Utilities 89 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Winterset Cost of Living Vs. IA

Winterset, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Winterset is $291,985.

  • The Median Rent in Winterset is $943.

  • The Median Income in Winterset is $69,268.

  • The Home Value To Income in Winterset is 4.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Winterset is 0.16x.

Statistic Winterset Iowa United States
Median Home Value $291,985 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $943 $949 $1,348
Median Income $69,268 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.2x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.16x 0.21x
$291,985
Median Home Value
$943
Median Rent
$69,268
Median Income

Winterset, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Winterset Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Winterset Iowa
Shampoo $1.35 $1.28
Movie $11.17 $12.13
Bowling $20.87 $18
Haircut $20.63 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.0 $45.56

Detailed Winterset Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Winterset Iowa
Ground Beef $6.36 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.38 $1.57
Milk $4.82 $4.67
Potatoes $4.81 $4.93
Pizza $11.84 $12.09
Beer $9.82 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Winterset Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Winterset Iowa
Optometrist $125.17 $125.68
Doctor $129.05 $135.78
Dentist $96.6 $113.29

Detailed Winterset Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Winterset Iowa
Gasoline $3.19 $3.46
Tire Balancing $52.49 $59.92

Detailed Winterset Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Winterset Iowa
All Electricity $154.71 $193.99
Phone $186.87 $192.25

Winterset SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
3
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
8.5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Winterset

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Winterset. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Winterset.

  • West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Winterset.

  • Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Winterset.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Winterset
Ankeny, IA 70,542 101 1.1x
West Des Moines, IA 69,893 102 1.1x
Urbandale, IA 46,026 103 1.2x
Waukee, IA 26,974 106 1.2x
Johnston, IA 24,196 109 1.2x
Altoona, IA 20,592 97 1.1x
Clive, IA 18,776 109 1.2x
Grimes, IA 15,810 99 1.1x
Norwalk, IA 13,610 99 1.1x
Pleasant Hill, IA 10,796 102 1.1x

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