Cottage Grove, MN vs Ham Lake, MN

Cottage Grove, MN and Ham Lake, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.7% difference in their overall index. Cottage Grove scores 116 while Ham Lake scores 112 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $1,319/month in Ham Lake — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ham Lake has cheaper rent, Cottage Grove actually has lower median home values ($359,600 vs $430,100).

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $116,845 in Ham Lake (+3.9%). While Cottage Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 13.5% in Ham Lake.