Clara City, MN vs Stephen, MN

Stephen is moderately more affordable than Clara City, with a 12.7% lower cost of living index. Clara City scores 75 compared to 67 for Stephen, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Clara City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clara City is $1,063/month compared to $871/month in Stephen — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Stephen is more affordable at $83,800 median vs $116,500.

Median household income in Clara City is $58,431 compared to $63,750 in Stephen (-8.3%). Stephen offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Clara City spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, more than the 16.4% in Stephen.