City Comparison
Marshalltown vs Dubuque
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Dubuque scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Marshalltown
Dubuque
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Marshalltown is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Dubuque.
Housing costs are a major driver: Marshalltown's average rent is
11% lower than Dubuque's.
| Metric | Marshalltown | Dubuque | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $950 | -11% |
| Groceries | $370 | $380 | -3% |
| Utilities | $165 | $175 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $220 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,715 | $1,835 | -7% |
| Cost Index | 84 | 89 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Dubuque offers 10% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Dubuque delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Marshalltown is estimated at
$42,000 vs $48,000 in Dubuque.
| Metric | Marshalltown | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,905 idx | 65,169 idx |
| Household Income | $55,400 | $65,400 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.4°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Marshalltown sees 4.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Marshalltown | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.80°F | 50.40°F |
| Summer High | 81.10°F | 81.40°F |
| Winter Low | 13.80°F | 14.30°F |
| Rainfall | 32.10 in | 32.70 in |
| Snowfall | 26.60 in | 21.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 261 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Dubuque scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Marshalltown leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Marshalltown | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Dubuque is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Marshalltown.
From a growth perspective, Dubuque is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Dubuque has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Marshalltown | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,500 | 59,384 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 39.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Marshalltown
Advantages
Median home prices in Marshalltown are substantially lower than the national average per US Census Bureau data.
Average commute times are exceptionally short at under 20 minutes.
A revitalized downtown district offers local dining, community events, and cultural festivals.
Strong local manufacturing and healthcare sectors provide steady employment opportunities.
Abundant parks and recreational areas support an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
Limited public transportation options create a high reliance on personal vehicles.
Severe weather events, including tornadoes and winter storms, occasionally impact the region.
Fewer entertainment and nightlife options compared to larger metropolitan areas like Des Moines.
Average household incomes trail state and national benchmarks.
Opportunities for remote tech and corporate careers locally are relatively sparse.
Dubuque
Advantages
Median home prices in Dubuque remain significantly more affordable than the national average per the National Association of Realtors.
Exceptional outdoor recreation access, highlighted by the 1,439-acre Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.
Robust regional healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne Dubuque and UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital.
Consistently lower violent and property crime rates compared to national benchmarks per FBI crime data.
Vibrant historic downtown and Port of Dubuque district offering diverse dining, arts, and cultural attractions.
Drawbacks
Cold and snowy winter conditions can create challenging commuting and outdoor circumstances.
Limited commercial flight options directly out of Dubuque Regional Airport require travel to larger hubs like Chicago or Cedar Rapids.
Public transit options outside of core fixed bus routes are somewhat limited for suburban commuters.
Wages in certain sectors may lag behind fast-growing coastal metropolitan markets.
Limited racial and ethnic diversity compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Marshalltown
#212Iowa, USA
63.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
84
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
50.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
73
Business
67
Dubuque
#112Iowa, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
76
Business
70
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