Lancaster, WI vs New Hampton, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Hampton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 15.7% lower than Lancaster, WI.

Lancaster, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
New Hampton, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / 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 Lancaster, WI and New Hampton, IA 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,109/month in New Hampton, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,689 in New Hampton, IA

Regional cost estimates: Lancaster, WI uses Madison, WI. New Hampton, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 15.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,109
Savings
Annual Impact
$13.3K
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.

Lancaster, WI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
89.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$214K

New Hampton, IA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
75.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$208K

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Lancaster, WI

The Badger State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

New Hampton, IA

The Hawkeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lancaster, WI vs New Hampton, IA

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
↓ 25.8%
Lancaster, WI
$2,311
New Hampton, IA
$1,715
Difference
$596
less
Other
↓ 11.8%
Lancaster, WI
$1,670
New Hampton, IA
$1,473
Difference
$197
less
Transportation
↓ 13.1%
Lancaster, WI
$1,312
New Hampton, IA
$1,140
Difference
$172
less
Groceries
↓ 6.0%
Lancaster, WI
$968
New Hampton, IA
$910
Difference
$58.15
less
Healthcare
↓ 6.0%
Lancaster, WI
$726
New Hampton, IA
$682
Difference
$43.31
less
All Utilities
↓ 8.3%
Lancaster, WI
$513
New Hampton, IA
$470
Difference
$42.60
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$750
To$710
↓ $40.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$800
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$950
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,320
↑ $100
Lancaster, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

New Hampton, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/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 Lancaster, WI
$6,391
Monthly in New Hampton, IA
$1,109
Difference

Home Values

Lancaster
New Hampton
$214K
Median Value
$208K
↑ +4.9%
YoY Change
↑ +2.6%
↑ +35.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.6%

Homes in New Hampton are 3% less expensive than Lancaster

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$154
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Lancaster, 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

New Hampton, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Lancaster, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

New Hampton, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Lancaster
New Hampton
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
67.5%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌡☀🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
25 days

Before moving from Lancaster, WI to New Hampton, IA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in New Hampton, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lancaster, WI. 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 Lancaster to New Hampton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to New Hampton, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lancaster, WI vs New Hampton, IA

How do the cost estimates for Lancaster, WI and New Hampton, IA compare?

New Hampton, IA has a modeled overall cost index 15.7% lower than Lancaster, WI. 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 Lancaster, WI, the model estimates $136,689 in New Hampton, IA. 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 Lancaster, WI and New Hampton, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Lancaster, WI and $950/month in New Hampton, IA. 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 Wisconsin and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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