Ham Lake, MN vs Zimmerman, MN

Zimmerman is moderately more affordable than Ham Lake, with a 13.4% lower cost of living index. Ham Lake scores 112 compared to 99 for Zimmerman, 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 $1,277/month in Zimmerman — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Zimmerman is more affordable at $284,600 median vs $430,100.

Median household income in Ham Lake is $116,845 compared to $86,169 in Zimmerman (+35.6%). 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 Zimmerman.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 42.9°F). Ham Lake receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 28.5" in Zimmerman.