Baraboo, WI vs Medford, WI

Medford is moderately more affordable than Baraboo, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Baraboo scores 78 compared to 71 for Medford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Baraboo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baraboo is $926/month compared to $809/month in Medford — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Medford is more affordable at $175,300 median vs $201,800.

Median household income in Baraboo is $73,515 compared to $53,173 in Medford (+38.3%). While Baraboo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Baraboo spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 18.3% in Medford.