Clear Lake, MN vs Waterville, MN

Waterville is moderately more affordable than Clear Lake, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 84 compared to 80 for Waterville, 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 $864/month compared to $835/month in Waterville — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterville is more affordable at $216,700 median vs $255,800.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $105,000 compared to $67,721 in Waterville (+55%). 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 9.9% of their income on rent, less than the 14.8% in Waterville.