Beaver Dam, WI vs Waterford, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Beaver Dam is 21.1% cheaper than Waterford. With a cost index of 77 vs 98, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Beaver Dam to Waterford should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Beaver Dam is $942/month compared to $1,278/month in Waterford — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Beaver Dam is more affordable at $189,800 median vs $312,700.

Median household income in Beaver Dam is $68,757 compared to $80,380 in Waterford (-14.5%). The higher salaries in Waterford partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Beaver Dam spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waterford.