Crystal Lake, IA vs Rome, IA

Crystal Lake is moderately more affordable than Rome, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Crystal Lake scores 64 compared to 68 for Rome, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rome 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 $1,021/month in Rome — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Crystal Lake has cheaper rent, Rome actually has lower median home values ($61,300 vs $86,000).

Median household income in Crystal Lake is $82,500 compared to $29,531 in Rome (+179.4%). Crystal 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 Crystal Lake spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 41.5% in Rome. The Crystal Lake ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.