Dayton, MN vs White Bear Lake, MN

White Bear Lake is moderately more affordable than Dayton, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Dayton scores 119 compared to 109 for White Bear Lake, 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 Dayton is $1,353/month compared to $1,540/month in White Bear Lake — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dayton has cheaper rent, White Bear Lake actually has lower median home values ($318,000 vs $510,600).

Median household income in Dayton is $137,383 compared to $79,712 in White Bear Lake (+72.3%). 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 Dayton spend roughly 11.8% of their income on rent, less than the 23.2% in White Bear Lake.