Clear Lake, IA vs Norwalk, IA

Clear Lake is moderately more affordable than Norwalk, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 74 compared to 81 for Norwalk, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Norwalk 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 $869/month in Norwalk — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clear Lake is more affordable at $235,100 median vs $275,700.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $94,583 in Norwalk (-25.7%). While Norwalk is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11% in Norwalk.