Crystal Lake, IA vs McGregor, IA

Crystal Lake, IA and McGregor, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3% difference in their overall index. Crystal Lake scores 64 while McGregor scores 62 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal Lake is $830/month compared to $618/month in McGregor — a 34% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while McGregor has cheaper rent, Crystal Lake actually has lower median home values ($86,000 vs $141,900).

Median household income in Crystal Lake is $82,500 compared to $58,750 in McGregor (+40.4%). 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 12.6% in McGregor.