Strafford, MO vs Howards Grove, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Howards Grove, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Strafford, MO.

Strafford, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,180 / month
Howards Grove, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,230 / 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 Strafford, MO and Howards Grove, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $1,042/month in Howards Grove, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,506 in Howards Grove, WI

Regional cost estimates: Strafford, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Howards Grove, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,042
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.5K
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.

Strafford, MO

Population:3K
Cost Index:
71.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$298K

Howards Grove, WI

Population:3K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$318K

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Strafford, MO

The Show-Me State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Howards Grove, WI

The Badger State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Strafford, MO vs Howards Grove, 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.

Transportation
↑ 32.3%
Strafford, MO
$1,290
Howards Grove, WI
$1,707
Difference
$417
more
Other
↑ 14.3%
Strafford, MO
$1,705
Howards Grove, WI
$1,949
Difference
$244
more
Healthcare
↑ 26.6%
Strafford, MO
$724
Howards Grove, WI
$916
Difference
$192
more
Groceries
↑ 8.0%
Strafford, MO
$1,132
Howards Grove, WI
$1,223
Difference
$91.01
more
Housing
↑ 4.4%
Strafford, MO
$2,010
Howards Grove, WI
$2,099
Difference
$89.04
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.5%
Strafford, MO
$639
Howards Grove, WI
$648
Difference
$9.32
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$950
To$850
↓ $100
1 Bed
From$950
To$980
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,230
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,610
To$1,490
↓ $120
Strafford, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/mo

Howards Grove, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$980/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 Strafford, MO
$8,542
Monthly in Howards Grove, WI
$1,042
Difference

Home Values

Strafford
Howards Grove
$298K
Median Value
$318K
↑ +2.3%
YoY Change
↑ +6.6%
↑ +41.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +53.2%

Homes in Howards Grove are 6% more expensive than Strafford

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $921
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$76.74
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Strafford, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Howards Grove, 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

Strafford, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Howards Grove, 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

Strafford
Howards Grove
46 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
68.6%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Strafford, MO to Howards Grove, 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 Howards Grove, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Strafford, MO. 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 Strafford to Howards Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Strafford, MO vs Howards Grove, WI

How do the cost estimates for Strafford, MO and Howards Grove, WI compare?

Howards Grove, WI has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Strafford, MO. 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 Strafford, MO, the model estimates $162,506 in Howards Grove, 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 Strafford, MO and Howards Grove, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,180/month in Strafford, MO and $1,230/month in Howards Grove, 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 Missouri and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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