Beaver Dam, WI vs Wausau, WI

Wausau is moderately more affordable than Beaver Dam, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Beaver Dam scores 77 compared to 73 for Wausau, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Beaver Dam can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Beaver Dam is $942/month compared to $950/month in Wausau — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Beaver Dam has cheaper rent, Wausau actually has lower median home values ($155,900 vs $189,800).

Median household income in Beaver Dam is $68,757 compared to $61,877 in Wausau (+11.1%). While Beaver Dam is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Beaver Dam spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 18.4% in Wausau.