Mason City, IA vs Spencer, IA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricMason City, IASpencer, IA
Population27,05011,400
Median Household Income$64,804$59,667
Median Rent$882/mo$805/mo
Median Home Value$142,000$184,800
Cost of Living (US = 100)——
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income34.1%36.9%
Poverty Rate12%14%
Unemployment Rate3.4%3.2% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k35496
Property Crime Rate /100k2,580874
Median AQI19—
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs80°F82°F
Winter Lows11°F10°F
Snowfall44 in/yr43 in/yr
Avg Commute13.5 min15.8 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating2.0 / 54.0 / 5
Students per Teacher14.415.2
College Degree Rate20.8%29.8%
Foreign-Born %3.3%3.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-1.8%-0.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.