Cottage Grove, MN vs Woodbury, MN

Cottage Grove is moderately more affordable than Woodbury, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Cottage Grove scores 116 compared to 128 for Woodbury, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Woodbury can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,644/month compared to $1,827/month in Woodbury — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cottage Grove is more affordable at $359,600 median vs $434,900.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $121,452 compared to $126,222 in Woodbury (-3.8%). Woodbury does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Woodbury.