Balsam Lake, WI vs Fredonia, WI

Balsam Lake is moderately more affordable than Fredonia, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Balsam Lake scores 81 compared to 86 for Fredonia, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fredonia can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Balsam Lake is $1,063/month compared to $1,009/month in Fredonia — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fredonia has cheaper rent, Balsam Lake actually has lower median home values ($188,600 vs $261,400).

Median household income in Balsam Lake is $48,468 compared to $86,442 in Fredonia (-43.9%). While Fredonia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Balsam Lake spend roughly 26.3% of their income on rent, more than the 14% in Fredonia.