Eagle River, WI vs Mercer, WI

Mercer is moderately more affordable than Eagle River, with a 10% lower cost of living index. Eagle River scores 73 compared to 66 for Mercer, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Eagle River can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Eagle River is $862/month compared to $525/month in Mercer — a 64% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mercer has cheaper rent, Eagle River actually has lower median home values ($165,100 vs $209,100).

Median household income in Eagle River is $52,027 compared to $51,528 in Mercer (+1%). Eagle River does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Eagle River spend roughly 19.9% of their income on rent, more than the 12.2% in Mercer.