Boyden, IA vs Lake Mills, IA

Lake Mills is moderately more affordable than Boyden, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Boyden scores 69 compared to 61 for Lake Mills, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Boyden can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boyden is $765/month compared to $615/month in Lake Mills — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Mills is more affordable at $127,100 median vs $175,300.

Median household income in Boyden is $81,354 compared to $70,333 in Lake Mills (+15.7%). While Boyden is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boyden spend roughly 11.3% of their income on rent, more than the 10.5% in Lake Mills.