Boone, IA vs Clear Lake, IA

Boone is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 69 compared to 74 for Clear Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Clear Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boone is $791/month compared to $755/month in Clear Lake — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Boone actually has lower median home values ($156,400 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Boone is $67,269 compared to $70,278 in Clear Lake (-4.3%). The higher salaries in Clear Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Boone spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, more than the 12.9% in Clear Lake.