Fountain, MN vs Hayfield, MN

Fountain is moderately more affordable than Hayfield, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Fountain scores 64 compared to 75 for Hayfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hayfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fountain is $575/month compared to $933/month in Hayfield — a 38% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fountain has cheaper rent, Hayfield actually has lower median home values ($173,000 vs $177,100).

Median household income in Fountain is $72,750 compared to $69,688 in Hayfield (+4.4%). Fountain offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fountain spend roughly 9.5% of their income on rent, less than the 16.1% in Hayfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (44.8°F vs 44.8°F). Hayfield receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 34.7" in Fountain.