Deer River, MN vs Pelican Rapids, MN

Pelican Rapids is moderately more affordable than Deer River, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Deer River scores 62 compared to 56 for Pelican Rapids, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Deer River can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Deer River is $680/month compared to $349/month in Pelican Rapids — a 95% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Pelican Rapids has cheaper rent, Deer River actually has lower median home values ($100,000 vs $177,700).

Median household income in Deer River is $38,029 compared to $65,482 in Pelican Rapids (-41.9%). Pelican Rapids offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Deer River spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 6.4% in Pelican Rapids.