Karlstad, MN vs Rushford, MN

Karlstad is moderately more affordable than Rushford, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Karlstad scores 63 compared to 74 for Rushford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rushford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Karlstad is $650/month compared to $824/month in Rushford — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Karlstad is more affordable at $120,300 median vs $203,200.

Median household income in Karlstad is $61,324 compared to $73,321 in Rushford (-16.4%). While Rushford is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Karlstad spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 13.5% in Rushford.

Climate-wise, Rushford is notably warmer with an average of 48.8°F compared to 37.7°F in Karlstad. Rushford receives more rainfall at 35.2" per year compared to 24.3" in Karlstad.