Bird Island, MN vs Rushmore, MN

Bird Island is moderately more affordable than Rushmore, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Bird Island scores 62 compared to 65 for Rushmore, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rushmore can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bird Island is $617/month compared to $750/month in Rushmore — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bird Island has cheaper rent, Rushmore actually has lower median home values ($107,200 vs $114,600).

Median household income in Bird Island is $71,190 compared to $39,205 in Rushmore (+81.6%). Bird Island offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bird Island spend roughly 10.4% of their income on rent, less than the 23% in Rushmore.