Marshalltown vs Ottumwa
Marshalltown, Iowa versus Ottumwa, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Marshalltown edges out Ottumwa on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Marshalltown | Ottumwa |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $65k | $53k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $110k | $89k |
| Monthly Rent | $832 | $915 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.83% | 1.88% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.38% | 11.43% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 19°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.4 in | 37.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.3 in | 23.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 233 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 64°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 92 days | 82 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.8 | 64.2 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 49.8 | 52.9 |
| Violent Crime | 955/100k | 2380/100k |
| Property Crime | 1212/100k | 3675/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 27,511 | 25,359 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.47 | 0.33 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.03 | 1.03 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+24 |
| White (%) | 55.7% | 73.7% |
| Black (%) | 2.3% | 4.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 33.6% | 14.9% |
| Asian (%) | 5.2% | 1.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.2% | 5.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 13.0/20 | 8.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 162 mi | 170 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.2% | 80.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 12.00 | 24.84 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Marshalltown or Ottumwa more affordable?
- Ottumwa has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Marshalltown's $43k and Ottumwa's $43k. Median rent is $832 in Marshalltown versus $915 in Ottumwa.
- Is Marshalltown or Ottumwa safer?
- Marshalltown has the lower violent crime rate. Marshalltown reports 955/100k and Ottumwa reports 2380/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Marshalltown or Ottumwa?
- The median home value is $110k in Marshalltown and $89k in Ottumwa, so homes are more affordable in Ottumwa.