Clear Lake, MN vs Dennison, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Clear Lake is 16.2% cheaper than Dennison. With a cost index of 84 vs 100, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Clear Lake to Dennison should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $864/month compared to $1,600/month in Dennison — a 46% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Dennison actually has lower median home values ($215,600 vs $255,800).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $105,000 compared to $51,250 in Dennison (+104.9%). Clear Lake 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 9.9% of their income on rent, less than the 37.5% in Dennison. The Clear Lake ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.