Lake Tomahawk, WI vs Merrillan, WI

Lake Tomahawk, WI and Merrillan, WI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. Lake Tomahawk scores 73 while Merrillan scores 71 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 Lake Tomahawk is $789/month compared to $892/month in Merrillan — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lake Tomahawk has cheaper rent, Merrillan actually has lower median home values ($129,300 vs $195,300).

Median household income in Lake Tomahawk is $49,167 compared to $53,875 in Merrillan (-8.7%). Merrillan 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 Tomahawk spend roughly 19.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Merrillan.