Ham Lake, MN vs Richfield, MN

Richfield is moderately more affordable than Ham Lake, with a 8.3% lower cost of living index. Ham Lake scores 112 compared to 103 for Richfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ham Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ham Lake is $1,319/month compared to $1,334/month in Richfield — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ham Lake has cheaper rent, Richfield actually has lower median home values ($320,400 vs $430,100).

Median household income in Ham Lake is $116,845 compared to $84,055 in Richfield (+39%). While Ham Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ham Lake spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19% in Richfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 46.9°F). Richfield receives more rainfall at 31.6" per year compared to 30.7" in Ham Lake.