Clarion, IA vs Clear Lake, IA

Clarion is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Clarion scores 64 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 Clarion is $764/month compared to $755/month in Clear Lake — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Clarion actually has lower median home values ($107,600 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clarion is $58,702 compared to $70,278 in Clear Lake (-16.5%). 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 Clarion spend roughly 15.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12.9% in Clear Lake.