Fairmont, MN vs St. Charles, MN

Fairmont is moderately more affordable than St. Charles, with a 13.6% lower cost of living index. Fairmont scores 69 compared to 80 for St. Charles, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Charles can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairmont is $717/month compared to $941/month in St. Charles — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairmont is more affordable at $168,800 median vs $231,300.

Median household income in Fairmont is $59,228 compared to $96,544 in St. Charles (-38.7%). While St. Charles is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairmont spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11.7% in St. Charles.