Dawson, MN vs Stephen, MN

Dawson is moderately more affordable than Stephen, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Dawson scores 62 compared to 67 for Stephen, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Stephen can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Dawson is $618/month compared to $871/month in Stephen — a 29% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dawson has cheaper rent, Stephen actually has lower median home values ($83,800 vs $118,800).

Median household income in Dawson is $70,286 compared to $63,750 in Stephen (+10.3%). Dawson offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Dawson spend roughly 10.6% of their income on rent, less than the 16.4% in Stephen.