Howards Grove, WI vs Merrill, WI

Merrill is moderately more affordable than Howards Grove, with a 13.4% lower cost of living index. Howards Grove scores 74 compared to 65 for Merrill, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Howards Grove can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Howards Grove is $701/month compared to $784/month in Merrill — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Howards Grove has cheaper rent, Merrill actually has lower median home values ($113,200 vs $249,200).

Median household income in Howards Grove is $72,348 compared to $49,947 in Merrill (+44.8%). While Howards Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Howards Grove spend roughly 11.6% of their income on rent, less than the 18.8% in Merrill.