2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ottumwa, IA vs Mason City, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Mason City or is it cheaper to live in Ottumwa?
- Mason City is 3.1% more expensive than Ottumwa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Mason City or Ottumwa?
- Mason City housing costs are 49.6% more expensive than Ottumwa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ottumwa or is Health Care more affordable in Mason City.
- Health related expenses are 15.8% less in Mason City.
 Ottumwa, IAMason City, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock73.3100
 Food & Groceries91.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock100.5100
 Housing24.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$137,100$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock59.1100
 Miscellaneous85.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ottumwa    5 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

Ottumwa has a seemingly high rate of theft-related crimes as well as drug use which I'm sure correlates to the incidences of assault. For a community of 20-30,000, the  More

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Over 16 years ago

ottumwa, Iowa has no diverse culture. It is not very open especially when it comes to branching out to new ideas of others culture...The idea of culture here is the pro  More

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Over 17 years ago

Pros: 1. Extremely low cost of living and housing 2. Affordable place to live Cons: 1. High crime rate 2. Very poor school system 3. Economically depressed 4.  More

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Reviews for Mason City    8 Reviews

I am from the area originally and have lived several places. I recently moved back from Arizona. I moved back to help with my elderly parents. If I did not have  More

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Over 13 years ago

Where to begin?? Murder,arson,abductions,beastialty,gang killings,meth labs,pantie thiefs. High utility bills, no jobs, corrupt police, evil judges, minus 40 below wind  More

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Over 14 years ago

Unless you have a tie to Mason City, such as family, don't even consider this desolate town. The population is declining rapidly for a reason. You are on an island,  More

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