Lafayette, MN vs Wheaton, MN

Wheaton is moderately more affordable than Lafayette, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Lafayette scores 64 compared to 58 for Wheaton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lafayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lafayette is $725/month compared to $582/month in Wheaton — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wheaton is more affordable at $82,200 median vs $142,700.

Median household income in Lafayette is $95,500 compared to $52,260 in Wheaton (+82.7%). While Lafayette is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lafayette spend roughly 9.1% of their income on rent, less than the 13.4% in Wheaton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.4°F vs 44°F). Lafayette receives more rainfall at 28" per year compared to 22.9" in Wheaton.