Dalton, WI vs Melrose, WI

Melrose is moderately more affordable than Dalton, with a 9.9% lower cost of living index. Dalton scores 72 compared to 65 for Melrose, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Dalton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Dalton is $930/month compared to $742/month in Melrose — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Melrose has cheaper rent, Dalton actually has lower median home values ($124,300 vs $137,500).

Median household income in Dalton is $61,667 compared to $50,208 in Melrose (+22.8%). While Dalton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dalton spend roughly 18.1% of their income on rent, more than the 17.7% in Melrose.