Balsam Lake, WI vs New Glarus, WI

Balsam Lake is moderately more affordable than New Glarus, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Balsam Lake scores 81 compared to 85 for New Glarus, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of New Glarus 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 $968/month in New Glarus — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while New Glarus has cheaper rent, Balsam Lake actually has lower median home values ($188,600 vs $267,600).

Median household income in Balsam Lake is $48,468 compared to $98,224 in New Glarus (-50.7%). While New Glarus 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 11.8% in New Glarus.