Spencer, IA vs Mason City, IA

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

MetricSpencer, IAMason City, IA
Population11,40027,050
Median Household Income$59,667$64,804
Median Rent$805/mo$882/mo
Median Home Value$184,800$142,000
Cost of Living (US = 100)——
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income36.9%34.1%
Poverty Rate14%12%
Unemployment Rate3.2% (county)3.4%
Violent Crime Rate /100k96354
Property Crime Rate /100k8742,580
Median AQI—19
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs82°F80°F
Winter Lows10°F11°F
Snowfall43 in/yr44 in/yr
Avg Commute15.8 min13.5 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating4.0 / 52.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.214.4
College Degree Rate29.8%20.8%
Foreign-Born %3.3%3.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%-1.8%

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