Estherville, IA vs Lake Mills, IA

Estherville, IA and Lake Mills, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Estherville scores 62 while Lake Mills scores 61 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 Estherville is $739/month compared to $615/month in Lake Mills — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lake Mills has cheaper rent, Estherville actually has lower median home values ($96,300 vs $127,100).

Median household income in Estherville is $54,624 compared to $70,333 in Lake Mills (-22.3%). Lake Mills offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Estherville spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.5% in Lake Mills.