Bridgewater, SD vs Clear Lake, SD

Bridgewater is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Bridgewater scores 60 compared to 64 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 Bridgewater is $719/month compared to $679/month in Clear Lake — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Bridgewater actually has lower median home values ($86,900 vs $144,400).

Median household income in Bridgewater is $38,500 compared to $65,398 in Clear Lake (-41.1%). While Clear Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bridgewater spend roughly 22.4% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Clear Lake.

Climate-wise, Bridgewater is notably warmer with an average of 47.7°F compared to 43°F in Clear Lake. Clear Lake receives more rainfall at 22.7" per year compared to 21.1" in Bridgewater.