Cost of living answer

Cost of Living in Orange City, IA

Cost of Living in Orange City, IA has an overall index of 85, 15% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $245,300; typical monthly rent is $815; and median household income is $81,667.

Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 state nonmetro price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.

Cost vs U.S.15% belowOverall modeled index 85
Typical rent$815/moCensus ACS
Typical home value$245,300Census ACS
Median household income$81,667Census ACS place estimate
Market PressureLower

Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.

Rent pressure
12%
Typical annual rent divided by local median household income.
Buy pressure
3.0x
Typical home value divided by local median household income.
Your Household Fit

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Advanced assumptions
Initial rent input: $815 from ACS. Edit it to match the housing option you are considering.
Mortgage benchmark: 6.11% 30-year fixed, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey via FRED, as of 2026-03-12. Not a lender quote or approval.
Property-tax input: State-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy Not a parcel or individual tax-bill estimate.

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City details

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Overall cost index85100 = U.S. baseline
Goods964% below baseline
Services982% below baseline
Utilities8812% below baseline
Frequently asked questions about Orange City

Living in Orange City

Is Orange City, IA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Orange City run about 15% below the US average (Cost Index: 85). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $245,300, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $815, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Orange City fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $815, while local median household income is $81,667. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 12% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.

How much are taxes in Orange City, IA?+

Iowa uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 5.7% is top marginal-rate context from the tax snapshot. Applying the 1.57% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $245,300 gives a planning estimate near $3,851 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 6.94%.

How much does it cost to rent in Orange City, IA?+

The typical monthly rent in Orange City is around $815. That's roughly 40% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $245,300, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Orange City, IA?+

The typical home value in Orange City is $245,300. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,190/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 72% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Orange City?+

Grocery prices in Orange City are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Orange City, IA like to live in?+

Orange City is a small town with a population of about 6,312. The median age of residents is 31.7, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 10.83%, near the national average of 12.4%.