Lake Mills, IA vs Maquoketa, IA

Lake Mills is moderately more affordable than Maquoketa, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Lake Mills scores 61 compared to 65 for Maquoketa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Maquoketa can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Mills is $615/month compared to $745/month in Maquoketa — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lake Mills has cheaper rent, Maquoketa actually has lower median home values ($126,800 vs $127,100).

Median household income in Lake Mills is $70,333 compared to $56,039 in Maquoketa (+25.5%). 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 Lake Mills spend roughly 10.5% of their income on rent, less than the 16% in Maquoketa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.6°F vs 47.2°F). Maquoketa receives more rainfall at 38.2" per year compared to 36.3" in Lake Mills.