Shell Lake, WI vs St. Joseph, WI

Shell Lake is moderately more affordable than St. Joseph, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Shell Lake scores 72 compared to 80 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Joseph can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Shell Lake is $713/month compared to $883/month in St. Joseph — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shell Lake is more affordable at $207,100 median vs $264,400.

Median household income in Shell Lake is $56,875 compared to $84,583 in St. Joseph (-32.8%). While St. Joseph is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Shell Lake spend roughly 15% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in St. Joseph.