Clear Lake, IA vs Tipton, IA

Tipton is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 74 compared to 69 for Tipton, 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 $823/month in Tipton — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Tipton actually has lower median home values ($146,000 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $67,625 in Tipton (+3.9%). The higher salaries in Clear Lake partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 14.6% in Tipton.