At 4% below the national average, Fond du Lac County continues to be a very affordable place to live, work and play.
The 2019 second quarter Cost of Living Index (COLI) for Fond du Lac County has decreased slightly from first quarter and has remained below the national average. The after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living is 96.0 or 4.0% below the national average of 100.0. Our county continues to be a very affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Each quarter, Envision Greater Fond du Lac collects data for COLI which is produced by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services for professional and managerial households in the top income bracket. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering 60 different items in 255 urban areas. The composite index of 96.0 for the Fond du Lac area is based on six different categories: grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.
Five locations in Wisconsin collected cost of living data in the second quarter of 2019 including Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Madison, and Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield. The Green Bay area is the least expensive at 90.7 (9.3% below average) with Madison the most expensive in the state at 105.9 or 5.9% above average. Among all the urban areas collecting COLI data, New York (Manhattan), NY is the most expensive place to live at 242.5 (142.5% above average) and Harlingen, TX is the least expensive at 73.8 (26.2% below average).
Why is cost of living information important? A lower cost of living attracts people and businesses. If it costs less to live in Fond du Lac County, in addition to other quality of life benefits, attracting workforce talent and new businesses can be easier. For instance, housing costs in Fond du Lac County have an index of 83.4, or 16.6% less than the national average.
If you’re interested in learning more or want to help gather prices, please contact Envision Greater Fond du Lac at (920) 921-9500 or [email protected].