Ellendale, MN vs Lester Prairie, MN

Ellendale, MN and Lester Prairie, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Ellendale scores 71 while Lester Prairie scores 74 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Ellendale is $820/month compared to $735/month in Lester Prairie — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lester Prairie has cheaper rent, Ellendale actually has lower median home values ($150,000 vs $217,000).

Median household income in Ellendale is $80,417 compared to $87,188 in Lester Prairie (-7.8%). While Lester Prairie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ellendale spend roughly 12.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.1% in Lester Prairie.