Cost of Living

The ACCRA (American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association) Cost of Living Index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas. The average for all participating places equals 100, and each participant's index is read as a percentage of the average for all places.  The city of Appleton, central to the New North and roughly representative of the region, was indexed at only 95.4.

If you earned a $100,000 salary in Appleton, you would need the following salaries in other cities to maintain your standard of living (plus the difference costs for groceries, housing, and utilities:

		Groceries	Housing	Utilities
New York (Queens)	$151,324	36%	135%	34%
Boston	$141,074	29%	92%	31%
Chicago	$117,552	19%	50%	14%
Detroit	$106,403	10%	27%	13%
Denver	$106,216	12%	24%	7%
Milwaukee	$104,106	7%	19%	3%
Indianapolis	$99,431	5%	10%	1%
Pittsburgh	$99,338	5%	7%	9%

Source:  http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html?step=form&x=50&y=9, accessed March 4, 2008

Incomes and Purchasing Power in New North Cities

	Appleton	Green Bay	Oshkosh	Sheboygan
Median family income (per year)	$64,105	$53,528	$54,270	$52,680
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted)	$73,179	$60,966	$64,530	$61,686

Auto insurance rates 2nd lowest in nation - The average combined auto insurance premium -- which includes the price of liability, collision and comprehensive coverage -- for Wisconsin drivers is the 2nd lowest in the nation, or about $707.  In 2002, when Wisconsin was ranked 5th lowest, its premiums averaged 22% less than the national average.