Appleton, MN vs Fountain, MN

Appleton is moderately more affordable than Fountain, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Appleton scores 60 compared to 64 for Fountain, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fountain can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Appleton is $682/month compared to $575/month in Fountain — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fountain has cheaper rent, Appleton actually has lower median home values ($71,300 vs $177,100).

Median household income in Appleton is $40,117 compared to $72,750 in Fountain (-44.9%). While Fountain is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Appleton spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, more than the 9.5% in Fountain.