Benton, WI vs Hayward, WI

Hayward is moderately more affordable than Benton, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Benton scores 77 compared to 69 for Hayward, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Benton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Benton is $1,079/month compared to $691/month in Hayward — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hayward has cheaper rent, Benton actually has lower median home values ($139,300 vs $184,200).

Median household income in Benton is $63,594 compared to $40,085 in Hayward (+58.6%). While Benton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Benton spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, less than the 20.7% in Hayward.