Benson, MN vs Madison Lake, MN

Benson is moderately more affordable than Madison Lake, with a 6.1% lower cost of living index. Benson scores 74 compared to 79 for Madison Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Benson is $939/month compared to $829/month in Madison Lake — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Madison Lake has cheaper rent, Benson actually has lower median home values ($146,100 vs $281,300).

Median household income in Benson is $51,124 compared to $84,833 in Madison Lake (-39.7%). While Madison Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Benson spend roughly 22% of their income on rent, more than the 11.7% in Madison Lake.