Elbow Lake, MN vs Hartland, MN

Hartland is moderately more affordable than Elbow Lake, with a 9.8% lower cost of living index. Elbow Lake scores 66 compared to 60 for Hartland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elbow Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elbow Lake is $746/month compared to $506/month in Hartland — a 47% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hartland has cheaper rent, Elbow Lake actually has lower median home values ($118,900 vs $135,600).

Median household income in Elbow Lake is $56,786 compared to $64,833 in Hartland (-12.4%). Hartland offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Elbow Lake spend roughly 15.8% of their income on rent, more than the 9.4% in Hartland.