Cottage Grove, MN vs Stillwater, MN

Cottage Grove, MN and Stillwater, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Cottage Grove scores 116 while Stillwater 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 $1,408/month in Stillwater — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Stillwater has cheaper rent, Cottage Grove actually has lower median home values ($359,600 vs $398,100).

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $109,297 in Stillwater (+11.1%). 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 15.5% in Stillwater.