Fairlawn, OH vs Lake Geneva, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Geneva, WI has a modeled overall cost index 11.9% higher than Fairlawn, OH.

Fairlawn, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,320 / month
Lake Geneva, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,320 / 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 Fairlawn, OH and Lake Geneva, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $705/month in Lake Geneva, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $158,460 in Lake Geneva, WI

Regional cost estimates: Fairlawn, OH uses Cleveland, OH. Lake Geneva, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 11.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$705
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$8.5K
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.

Fairlawn, OH

Population:8K
Cost Index:
75.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$393K

Lake Geneva, WI

Population:9K
Cost Index:
83.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$439K

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Fairlawn, OH

The Buckeye State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Lake Geneva, WI

The Badger State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fairlawn, OH vs Lake Geneva, 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
↑ 16.5%
Fairlawn, OH
$1,735
Lake Geneva, WI
$2,023
Difference
$287
more
Healthcare
↑ 37.0%
Fairlawn, OH
$638
Lake Geneva, WI
$875
Difference
$236
more
Other
↑ 4.0%
Fairlawn, OH
$1,805
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,878
Difference
$73.08
more
Transportation
↑ 3.8%
Fairlawn, OH
$1,584
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,644
Difference
$60.52
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.8%
Fairlawn, OH
$563
Lake Geneva, WI
$618
Difference
$55.43
more
Groceries
↓ 0.6%
Fairlawn, OH
$1,175
Lake Geneva, WI
$1,167
Difference
$7.48
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$940
To$910
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,030
To$1,010
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,320
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,610
To$1,660
↑ $50.00
Fairlawn, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/mo

Lake Geneva, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/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 Fairlawn, OH
$8,205
Monthly in Lake Geneva, WI
$705
Difference

Home Values

Fairlawn
Lake Geneva
$393K
Median Value
$439K
↑ +3.4%
YoY Change
↑ +4.8%
↑ +35%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.4%

Homes in Lake Geneva are 12% more expensive than Fairlawn

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

Fairlawn, 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

Lake Geneva, 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

Fairlawn, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Lake Geneva, 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

Fairlawn
Lake Geneva
54 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
37.2%
Good Air Days
68.6%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Fairlawn, OH to Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fairlawn, 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 Fairlawn to Lake Geneva moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fairlawn, OH vs Lake Geneva, WI

How do the cost estimates for Fairlawn, OH and Lake Geneva, WI compare?

Lake Geneva, WI has a modeled overall cost index 11.9% higher than Fairlawn, 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 Fairlawn, OH, the model estimates $158,460 in Lake Geneva, 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 Fairlawn, OH and Lake Geneva, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,320/month in Fairlawn, OH and $1,320/month in Lake Geneva, 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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