Garfield, MN vs Houston, MN

Garfield is moderately more affordable than Houston, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Garfield scores 61 compared to 69 for Houston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Houston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Garfield is $477/month compared to $815/month in Houston — a 42% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Garfield has cheaper rent, Houston actually has lower median home values ($152,100 vs $162,500).

Median household income in Garfield is $70,250 compared to $50,667 in Houston (+38.7%). Garfield offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Garfield spend roughly 8.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in Houston.

Climate-wise, Houston is notably warmer with an average of 48.8°F compared to 42.5°F in Garfield. Houston receives more rainfall at 35.2" per year compared to 24.1" in Garfield.