Cost of Living in Dresser, WI

With a cost of living index of 84, Dresser, WI is a very affordable place to live. Living here is 17% cheaper than the national average and 4% above the Wisconsin state average of 79. Dresser is a small community of 1,037 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Dresser's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,024 (22% below the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $194,400 (36% below the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 2.5x the median household income — well within traditional affordability guidelines.

The median household income in Dresser is $78,906, which is 5% higher than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 16% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum.

Everyday prices in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area tend to run above the national average. Out of 6 common grocery and utility items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 are priced higher than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.