Fairfax, MN vs Round Lake, MN

Fairfax is moderately more affordable than Round Lake, with a 12.8% lower cost of living index. Fairfax scores 51 compared to 59 for Round Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Round Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairfax is $410/month compared to $593/month in Round Lake — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairfax has cheaper rent, Round Lake actually has lower median home values ($87,800 vs $99,800).

Median household income in Fairfax is $53,750 compared to $63,661 in Round Lake (-15.6%). While Round Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfax spend roughly 9.2% of their income on rent, less than the 11.2% in Round Lake.