Clear Lake, IA vs Hawarden, IA

Hawarden is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 8.1% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 74 compared to 68 for Hawarden, 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 Clear Lake is $755/month compared to $881/month in Hawarden — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Hawarden actually has lower median home values ($132,700 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $69,375 in Hawarden (+1.3%). Clear Lake does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.2% in Hawarden.