| Index | Northwood | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 56 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 102 | 94 | 100 |

| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $108,690 | $9,058 | $2,536 | $3,261 |
| Renters | $49,713 | $4,143 | $1,160 | $1,492 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bolan, IA | 10 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Mona, IA | 41 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Otranto, IA | 0 | 101 | 1.0% |
| Myrtle, MN | 71 | 78 | 21.6% |
| Kensett, IA | 292 | 83 | 16.8% |
| Northwood, IA | 2,232 | 88 | 12.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Cudjoe Key, FL | 2,231 | 142 | 41.9% |
| Madison, NC | 2,231 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Mineralwells, WV | 2,231 | 90 | 10.4% |
| Saint-Damien, QC | 2,231 | n/a | |
| Mount Zion, GA | 2,233 | 95 | 4.6% |
| Northwood, IA | 2,232 | 88 | 12.4% |