Grafton, ND vs Valley City, ND

Grafton, ND and Valley City, ND have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.9% difference in their overall index. Grafton scores 65 while Valley City scores 67 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 Grafton is $715/month compared to $782/month in Valley City — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Grafton has cheaper rent, Valley City actually has lower median home values ($152,800 vs $153,800).

Median household income in Grafton is $60,184 compared to $56,471 in Valley City (+6.6%). Grafton offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Grafton spend roughly 14.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in Valley City.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (39.8°F vs 41.3°F). Grafton receives more rainfall at 21.7" per year compared to 19.8" in Valley City.