Ham Lake, MN vs Stewartville, MN

The cost of living difference between Ham Lake, MN and Stewartville, MN is dramatic. Stewartville is 34.2% cheaper than Ham Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Ham Lake has a cost index of 112 while Stewartville sits at 83, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Ham Lake is $1,319/month compared to $975/month in Stewartville — a 35% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Stewartville is more affordable at $258,000 median vs $430,100.

Median household income in Ham Lake is $116,845 compared to $65,714 in Stewartville (+77.8%). 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 17.8% in Stewartville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 44.8°F). Stewartville receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 30.7" in Ham Lake.