Fort Thompson, SD vs Mount Vernon, SD

Fort Thompson, SD and Mount Vernon, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.5% difference in their overall index. Fort Thompson scores 56 while Mount Vernon scores 56 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 Fort Thompson is $515/month compared to $382/month in Mount Vernon — a 35% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Vernon has cheaper rent, Fort Thompson actually has lower median home values ($110,300 vs $163,100).

Median household income in Fort Thompson is $45,313 compared to $58,542 in Mount Vernon (-22.6%). While Mount Vernon is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Thompson spend roughly 13.6% of their income on rent, more than the 7.8% in Mount Vernon.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.2°F vs 47.7°F). Mount Vernon receives more rainfall at 21.1" per year compared to 20.4" in Fort Thompson.