Lake Benton, MN vs Swanville, MN

Lake Benton is moderately more affordable than Swanville, with a 12.3% lower cost of living index. Lake Benton scores 58 compared to 66 for Swanville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Swanville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Benton is $550/month compared to $656/month in Swanville — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Benton is more affordable at $91,900 median vs $151,300.

Median household income in Lake Benton is $52,000 compared to $58,750 in Swanville (-11.5%). The higher salaries in Swanville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Benton spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 13.4% in Swanville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.1°F vs 42.5°F). Lake Benton receives more rainfall at 29.6" per year compared to 24.1" in Swanville.