Apple Valley, MN vs Forest Lake, MN

Forest Lake is moderately more affordable than Apple Valley, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Apple Valley scores 116 compared to 109 for Forest Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Apple Valley can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Apple Valley is $1,678/month compared to $1,379/month in Forest Lake — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest Lake has cheaper rent, Apple Valley actually has lower median home values ($354,200 vs $375,900).

Median household income in Apple Valley is $99,277 compared to $89,879 in Forest Lake (+10.5%). While Apple Valley is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Apple Valley spend roughly 20.3% of their income on rent, more than the 18.4% in Forest Lake.