Crystal, MN vs Dayton, MN

Crystal is moderately more affordable than Dayton, with a 13.7% lower cost of living index. Crystal scores 103 compared to 119 for Dayton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Dayton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal is $1,437/month compared to $1,353/month in Dayton — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dayton has cheaper rent, Crystal actually has lower median home values ($280,500 vs $510,600).

Median household income in Crystal is $86,752 compared to $137,383 in Dayton (-36.9%). While Dayton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Crystal spend roughly 19.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.8% in Dayton.