Clear Lake, IA vs Wilton, IA

Wilton is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 74 compared to 70 for Wilton, 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 $829/month in Wilton — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Wilton actually has lower median home values ($162,000 vs $235,100).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $70,278 compared to $71,898 in Wilton (-2.3%). Wilton 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, less than the 13.8% in Wilton.