Orange City, IA vs Waupaca, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Waupaca, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% higher than Orange City, IA.

Orange City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month
Waupaca, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Orange City, IA and Waupaca, WI 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: $1,066/month in Waupaca, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,797 in Waupaca, WI

Regional cost estimates: Orange City, IA uses Omaha, NE. Waupaca, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,066
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.8K
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.

Orange City, IA

Population:6K
Cost Index:
75.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$306K

Waupaca, WI

Population:6K
Cost Index:
86.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$308K

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Orange City, IA

The Hawkeye State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Waupaca, WI

The Badger State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Orange City, IA vs Waupaca, WI

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
↑ 30.8%
Orange City, IA
$2,009
Waupaca, WI
$2,628
Difference
$618
more
Other
↑ 10.2%
Orange City, IA
$1,722
Waupaca, WI
$1,898
Difference
$176
more
Transportation
↑ 13.1%
Orange City, IA
$1,318
Waupaca, WI
$1,491
Difference
$173
more
All Utilities
↑ 8.1%
Orange City, IA
$548
Waupaca, WI
$593
Difference
$44.42
more
Healthcare
↑ 5.4%
Orange City, IA
$795
Waupaca, WI
$838
Difference
$43.09
more
Groceries
↑ 1.0%
Orange City, IA
$1,107
Waupaca, WI
$1,119
Difference
$11.29
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$700
To$760
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$700
To$780
↑ $80.00
2 Bed
From$920
To$970
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,280
↑ $100
Orange City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/mo

Waupaca, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Orange City, IA
$8,566
Monthly in Waupaca, WI
$1,066
Difference

Home Values

Orange City
Waupaca
$306K
Median Value
$308K
↑ +4%
YoY Change
↑ +6.1%
↑ +37.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.1%

Homes in Waupaca are 1% more expensive than Orange City

Calculate payment - Orange CityCalculate payment - Waupaca

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$154
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Orange City, 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

Waupaca, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Orange City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Waupaca, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Orange City
Waupaca
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
72.1%
96 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Orange City, IA to Waupaca, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Waupaca, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Orange City, IA. 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 Orange City to Waupaca moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Orange City, IA vs Waupaca, WI

How do the cost estimates for Orange City, IA and Waupaca, WI compare?

Waupaca, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% higher than Orange City, IA. 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 Orange City, IA, the model estimates $162,797 in Waupaca, WI. 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 Orange City, IA and Waupaca, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $920/month in Orange City, IA and $970/month in Waupaca, WI. 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 Iowa and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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