Arden Hills, MN vs Prior Lake, MN

Prior Lake is moderately more affordable than Arden Hills, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Arden Hills scores 127 compared to 119 for Prior Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arden Hills can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arden Hills is $1,847/month compared to $1,548/month in Prior Lake — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Prior Lake has cheaper rent, Arden Hills actually has lower median home values ($423,800 vs $429,900).

Median household income in Arden Hills is $128,668 compared to $130,278 in Prior Lake (-1.2%). Prior Lake offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Arden Hills spend roughly 17.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.3% in Prior Lake.