Fosston, MN vs Perham, MN

Fosston is moderately more affordable than Perham, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Fosston scores 66 compared to 74 for Perham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Perham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fosston is $846/month compared to $813/month in Perham — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Perham has cheaper rent, Fosston actually has lower median home values ($126,500 vs $186,000).

Median household income in Fosston is $50,694 compared to $47,088 in Perham (+7.7%). Fosston offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fosston spend roughly 20% of their income on rent, less than the 20.7% in Perham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (37.7°F vs 40.4°F). Fosston receives more rainfall at 24.3" per year compared to 23.9" in Perham.