Clara City, MN vs Wadena, MN

Wadena is moderately more affordable than Clara City, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Clara City scores 75 compared to 67 for Wadena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Clara City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clara City is $1,063/month compared to $683/month in Wadena — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wadena has cheaper rent, Clara City actually has lower median home values ($116,500 vs $158,700).

Median household income in Clara City is $58,431 compared to $45,850 in Wadena (+27.4%). While Clara City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clara City spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, more than the 17.9% in Wadena.