Notre Dame, IN vs Wakarusa, IN

Wakarusa is moderately more affordable than Notre Dame, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Notre Dame scores 95 compared to 86 for Wakarusa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Notre Dame can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

Renters will find that Notre Dame has a median rent of $1,268/month while Wakarusa comes in at $1,214/month, a 4% difference.

Median household income in Notre Dame is $19,082 compared to $76,008 in Wakarusa (-74.9%). Wakarusa offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Notre Dame spend roughly 79.7% of their income on rent, more than the 19.2% in Wakarusa. The Wakarusa ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.