Fountain, MN vs Wheaton, MN

Wheaton is moderately more affordable than Fountain, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Fountain scores 64 compared to 58 for Wheaton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fountain 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 $582/month in Wheaton — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fountain has cheaper rent, Wheaton actually has lower median home values ($82,200 vs $177,100).

Median household income in Fountain is $72,750 compared to $52,260 in Wheaton (+39.2%). While Fountain is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fountain spend roughly 9.5% of their income on rent, less than the 13.4% in Wheaton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (44.8°F vs 44°F). Fountain receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 22.9" in Wheaton.