Clear Lake, SD vs Willow Lake, SD

Clear Lake is moderately more affordable than Willow Lake, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Clear Lake scores 64 compared to 68 for Willow Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Willow Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $679/month compared to $810/month in Willow Lake — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clear Lake is more affordable at $144,400 median vs $150,000.

Median household income in Clear Lake is $65,398 compared to $63,929 in Willow Lake (+2.3%). 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 12.5% of their income on rent, less than the 15.2% in Willow Lake.