Mercer, WI vs Mount Sterling, WI

Mercer, WI and Mount Sterling, WI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3% difference in their overall index. Mercer scores 66 while Mount Sterling scores 64 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 Mercer is $525/month compared to $685/month in Mount Sterling — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mercer has cheaper rent, Mount Sterling actually has lower median home values ($126,400 vs $209,100).

Median household income in Mercer is $51,528 compared to $43,438 in Mount Sterling (+18.6%). While Mercer is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mercer spend roughly 12.2% of their income on rent, less than the 18.9% in Mount Sterling.