Lake Mills, IA vs Long Grove, IA

The cost of living difference between Lake Mills, IA and Long Grove, IA is dramatic. Lake Mills is 39.3% cheaper than Long Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lake Mills has a cost index of 61 while Long Grove sits at 100, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Mills is $615/month compared to $1,479/month in Long Grove — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Mills is more affordable at $127,100 median vs $295,900.

Median household income in Lake Mills is $70,333 compared to $124,297 in Long Grove (-43.4%). While Long 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 Lake Mills spend roughly 10.5% of their income on rent, less than the 14.3% in Long Grove.

Climate-wise, Long Grove is notably warmer with an average of 49.9°F compared to 45.6°F in Lake Mills. Lake Mills receives more rainfall at 36.3" per year compared to 36.2" in Long Grove.