Clear Lake, IA vs Mitchellville, IA

Clear Lake, IA and Mitchellville, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Clear Lake scores 74 while Mitchellville scores 72 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $755/month compared to $773/month in Mitchellville — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Mitchellville actually has lower median home values ($190,200 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $78,816 in Mitchellville (-10.8%). Mitchellville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.8% in Mitchellville.