Lakeville, MN vs Maplewood, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Maplewood is 23.4% cheaper than Lakeville. With a cost index of 100 vs 124, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Maplewood to Lakeville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lakeville is $1,727/month compared to $1,316/month in Maplewood — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Maplewood is more affordable at $291,300 median vs $425,200.

Median household income in Lakeville is $138,119 compared to $88,534 in Maplewood (+56%). While Lakeville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lakeville spend roughly 15% of their income on rent, less than the 17.8% in Maplewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.9°F vs 46.5°F). Lakeville receives more rainfall at 31.6" per year compared to 29.2" in Maplewood.