Newell vs Storm Lake
Newell, Iowa versus Storm Lake, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Newell edges out Storm Lake on overall objective livability (48 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Newell | Storm Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $55k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $45k |
| Home Value | $102k | $149k |
| Monthly Rent | $627 | $782 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $246 | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.34% | 1.46% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.42% | 12.27% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | 4.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 17°F | 17°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8 in | 33.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.9 in | 36.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 224 days | 228 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 87 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 74.1 | 68.7 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 51.1 | 56.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1160/100k | 1703/100k |
| Property Crime | 842/100k | 1348/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 892 | 11,194 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 31.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.25 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | R+26 | R+26 |
| White (%) | 91.0% | 34.5% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.0% | 39.5% |
| Asian (%) | 0.2% | 15.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.7% | 6.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | — |
| Walkability | 7.2/20 | 7.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 101 mi | 99 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.0% | 88.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 22.42 | 31.27 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
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 Newell or Storm Lake more affordable?
- Storm Lake has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Newell's $45k and Storm Lake's $45k. Median rent is $627 in Newell versus $782 in Storm Lake.
- Is Newell or Storm Lake safer?
- Newell has the lower violent crime rate. Newell reports 1160/100k and Storm Lake reports 1703/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Newell or Storm Lake?
- The median home value is $102k in Newell and $149k in Storm Lake, so homes are more affordable in Newell.