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 92, 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 higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Winterset ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Winterset ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Winterset, check out:
Winterset Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Winterset. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Winterset is 100.
The Groceries index in Winterset is 98.
The Health index in Winterset is 88.
The Housing index in Winterset is 97.
The Transportation index in Winterset is 95.
The Utilities index in Winterset is 93.
| Living Expense | Winterset | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 88 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Winterset Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Winterset Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Winterset is $289,607.
The Median Rent in Winterset is $1,095.
The Median Income in Winterset is $67,708.
The Home Value To Income in Winterset is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Winterset is 0.19x.
Winterset, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Winterset Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Winterset Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Winterset Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Winterset Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Winterset SnackAbility
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 106, 1.2x Winterset.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Winterset.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x Winterset.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Winterset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.2x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.1x |








