Clearwater, NE vs Sterling, NE

Clearwater is moderately more affordable than Sterling, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Clearwater scores 62 compared to 66 for Sterling, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Sterling can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clearwater is $788/month compared to $793/month in Sterling — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clearwater is more affordable at $77,500 median vs $120,700.

Median household income in Clearwater is $61,667 compared to $72,083 in Sterling (-14.5%). While Sterling is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clearwater spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, more than the 13.2% in Sterling.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.2°F vs 51.2°F). Sterling receives more rainfall at 32.3" per year compared to 27" in Clearwater.