Iron Mountain, MI vs Denison, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Denison, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.5% higher than Iron Mountain, MI.

Iron Mountain, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,035 / month
Denison, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Iron Mountain, MI and Denison, IA 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: $804/month in Denison, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,649 in Denison, IA

Regional cost estimates: Iron Mountain, MI uses Milwaukee, WI. Denison, IA uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$804
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$9.6K
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.

Iron Mountain, MI

Population:8K
Cost Index:
70.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$160K

Denison, IA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$171K

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Iron Mountain, MI

The Great Lakes State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Denison, IA

The Hawkeye State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Iron Mountain, MI vs Denison, IA

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.

Housing
↑ 25.3%
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,798
Denison, IA
$2,252
Difference
$454
more
Other
↑ 15.6%
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,669
Denison, IA
$1,930
Difference
$261
more
Groceries
↑ 5.9%
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,129
Denison, IA
$1,195
Difference
$66.23
more
Transportation
↑ 1.1%
Iron Mountain, MI
$1,461
Denison, IA
$1,478
Difference
$16.36
more
Healthcare
↑ 1.4%
Iron Mountain, MI
$845
Denison, IA
$858
Difference
$12.25
more
All Utilities
↓ 1.1%
Iron Mountain, MI
$598
Denison, IA
$591
Difference
$6.39
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$735
To$710
↓ $25.00
1 Bed
From$895
To$820
↓ $75.00
2 Bed
From$1,035
To$960
↓ $75.00
3 Bed
From$1,260
To$1,270
↑ $10.00
Iron Mountain, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$950/mo

Denison, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/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 Iron Mountain, MI
$8,304
Monthly in Denison, IA
$804
Difference

Home Values

Iron Mountain
Denison
$160K
Median Value
$171K
↑ +3.6%
YoY Change
↑ +2.5%
↑ +38.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.8%
$143K - $177K
Price Range
$171K

Homes in Denison are 6% more expensive than Iron Mountain

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$361
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Iron Mountain, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Denison, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Iron Mountain, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Denison, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Iron Mountain
Denison
43 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
63.7%
98 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Iron Mountain, MI to Denison, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Denison, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Iron Mountain, MI. 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 Iron Mountain to Denison moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Denison, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Iron Mountain, MI vs Denison, IA

How do the cost estimates for Iron Mountain, MI and Denison, IA compare?

Denison, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.5% higher than Iron Mountain, MI. 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 Iron Mountain, MI, the model estimates $159,649 in Denison, IA. 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 Iron Mountain, MI and Denison, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,035/month in Iron Mountain, MI and $960/month in Denison, IA. 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 Michigan and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

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