Clear Lake, IA vs Oskaloosa, IA

Oskaloosa is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 7.1% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 74 compared to 69 for Oskaloosa, 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 $880/month in Oskaloosa — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Oskaloosa actually has lower median home values ($128,900 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $62,172 in Oskaloosa (+13%). 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 Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 17% in Oskaloosa.