Mercer, WI vs Shell Lake, WI

Mercer is moderately more affordable than Shell Lake, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Mercer scores 66 compared to 72 for Shell Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Shell Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mercer is $525/month compared to $713/month in Shell Lake — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mercer has cheaper rent, Shell Lake actually has lower median home values ($207,100 vs $209,100).

Median household income in Mercer is $51,528 compared to $56,875 in Shell Lake (-9.4%). While Shell Lake 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 15% in Shell Lake.