Burnsville, MN vs Elk River, MN

Elk River is moderately more affordable than Burnsville, with a 6.6% lower cost of living index. Burnsville scores 110 compared to 103 for Elk River, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burnsville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burnsville is $1,501/month compared to $1,269/month in Elk River — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elk River has cheaper rent, Burnsville actually has lower median home values ($335,100 vs $338,300).

Median household income in Burnsville is $83,953 compared to $99,457 in Elk River (-15.6%). Elk River offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Burnsville spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 15.3% in Elk River.