Bluffton, OH vs Mauston, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mauston, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.5% higher than Bluffton, OH.

Bluffton, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month
Mauston, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bluffton, OH and Mauston, WI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated extra cost: $1,064/month in Mauston, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,770 in Mauston, WI

Regional cost estimates: Bluffton, OH uses Fort Wayne, IN. Mauston, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,064
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bluffton, OH

Population:4K
Cost Index:
79.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$259K

Mauston, WI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
91.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$250K

Planning the move to Mauston?

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Bluffton, OH

The Buckeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Mauston, WI

The Badger State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bluffton, OH vs Mauston, WI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 37.1%
Bluffton, OH
$1,930
Mauston, WI
$2,646
Difference
$716
more
Other
↑ 8.9%
Bluffton, OH
$1,756
Mauston, WI
$1,912
Difference
$156
more
Healthcare
↑ 17.4%
Bluffton, OH
$701
Mauston, WI
$823
Difference
$122
more
Transportation
↑ 7.2%
Bluffton, OH
$1,401
Mauston, WI
$1,502
Difference
$101
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.8%
Bluffton, OH
$605
Mauston, WI
$582
Difference
$23.05
less
Groceries
↓ 0.7%
Bluffton, OH
$1,107
Mauston, WI
$1,099
Difference
$7.81
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$740
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$740
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$970
↓ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,200
↓ $70.00
Bluffton, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Mauston, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Bluffton, OH
$8,564
Monthly in Mauston, WI
$1,064
Difference

Home Values

Bluffton
Mauston
$259K
Median Value
$250K
↑ +7.2%
YoY Change
↑ +9.1%
↑ +36%
5-Year Change
↑ +59%

Homes in Mauston are 3% less expensive than Bluffton

Calculate payment - BlufftonCalculate payment - Mauston

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$369
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Bluffton, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Mauston, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Bluffton, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Mauston, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bluffton
Mauston
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
72.1%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Bluffton, OH to Mauston, WI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mauston, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bluffton, OH. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bluffton to Mauston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Mauston, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bluffton, OH vs Mauston, WI

How do the cost estimates for Bluffton, OH and Mauston, WI compare?

Mauston, WI has a modeled overall cost index 14.5% higher than Bluffton, OH. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bluffton, OH, the model estimates $162,770 in Mauston, WI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bluffton, OH and Mauston, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Bluffton, OH and $970/month in Mauston, WI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Ohio and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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