Crystal Lake, IA vs Gilmore City, IA

Gilmore City is moderately more affordable than Crystal Lake, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Crystal Lake scores 64 compared to 58 for Gilmore City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Crystal Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal Lake is $830/month compared to $654/month in Gilmore City — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gilmore City is more affordable at $82,700 median vs $86,000.

Median household income in Crystal Lake is $82,500 compared to $51,250 in Gilmore City (+61%). While Crystal 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 Crystal Lake spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 15.3% in Gilmore City.