Barnesville, MN vs St. Joseph, MN

Barnesville is moderately more affordable than St. Joseph, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Barnesville scores 75 compared to 86 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Joseph can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Barnesville is $862/month compared to $1,139/month in St. Joseph — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Barnesville is more affordable at $218,300 median vs $240,300.

Median household income in Barnesville is $83,333 compared to $75,217 in St. Joseph (+10.8%). Barnesville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Barnesville spend roughly 12.4% of their income on rent, less than the 18.2% in St. Joseph.