Albert Lea, MN vs Stewartville, MN

Albert Lea is moderately more affordable than Stewartville, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Albert Lea scores 72 compared to 83 for Stewartville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Stewartville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albert Lea is $845/month compared to $975/month in Stewartville — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Albert Lea is more affordable at $150,400 median vs $258,000.

Median household income in Albert Lea is $62,522 compared to $65,714 in Stewartville (-4.9%). Stewartville does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Albert Lea spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.8% in Stewartville.