Darwin, MN vs Elgin, MN

Darwin is moderately more affordable than Elgin, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Darwin scores 69 compared to 73 for Elgin, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elgin can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Darwin is $775/month compared to $738/month in Elgin — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elgin has cheaper rent, Darwin actually has lower median home values ($142,500 vs $218,200).

Median household income in Darwin is $61,250 compared to $87,000 in Elgin (-29.6%). While Elgin is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Darwin spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.2% in Elgin.