Groton, SD vs West Alexandria, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Alexandria, OH has a modeled overall cost index 23.3% higher than Groton, SD.

Groton, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month
West Alexandria, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Groton, SD and West Alexandria, OH using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,264/month in West Alexandria, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $165,174 in West Alexandria, OH

Regional cost estimates: Groton, SD uses Minneapolis, MN. West Alexandria, OH uses Cincinnati, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 23.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,264
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$15.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Groton, SD

Population:1K
Cost Index:
64.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$230K

West Alexandria, OH

Population:1K
Cost Index:
79.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$227K

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Groton, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

1K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 1K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

West Alexandria, OH

The Buckeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Groton, SD vs West Alexandria, OH

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↑ 35.5%
Groton, SD
$1,540
West Alexandria, OH
$2,086
Difference
$547
more
Transportation
↑ 31.8%
Groton, SD
$1,197
West Alexandria, OH
$1,578
Difference
$381
more
Housing
↑ 10.8%
Groton, SD
$2,192
West Alexandria, OH
$2,429
Difference
$237
more
Groceries
↑ 9.3%
Groton, SD
$1,154
West Alexandria, OH
$1,260
Difference
$107
more
Healthcare
↓ 8.8%
Groton, SD
$847
West Alexandria, OH
$773
Difference
$74.28
less
All Utilities
↑ 11.8%
Groton, SD
$570
West Alexandria, OH
$637
Difference
$67.17
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$760
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$770
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,020
To$1,010
↓ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,340
↑ $60.00
Groton, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

West Alexandria, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Groton, SD
$8,764
Monthly in West Alexandria, OH
$1,264
Difference

Home Values

Groton
West Alexandria
$230K
Median Value
$227K
↑ +3.8%
YoY Change
↑ +2.5%
↑ +24%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.6%

Homes in West Alexandria are 2% less expensive than Groton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$369
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.0%
Rate difference

Groton, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

West Alexandria, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Groton, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
Property Tax:1.3%

West Alexandria, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Groton
West Alexandria
42 Good
Air Quality
52 Moderate
66.4%
Good Air Days
44.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days
▲+3.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
14 days
Heat Days >95°F
29 days

Before moving from Groton, SD to West Alexandria, OH

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Alexandria, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Groton, SD. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Groton to West Alexandria moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Alexandria, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Groton, SD vs West Alexandria, OH

How do the cost estimates for Groton, SD and West Alexandria, OH compare?

West Alexandria, OH has a modeled overall cost index 23.3% higher than Groton, SD. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Groton, SD, the model estimates $165,174 in West Alexandria, OH. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Groton, SD and West Alexandria, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Groton, SD and $1,010/month in West Alexandria, OH. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between South Dakota and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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