Long Prairie, MN vs Preston, MN

Preston is moderately more affordable than Long Prairie, with a 10.2% lower cost of living index. Long Prairie scores 73 compared to 66 for Preston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Long Prairie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Prairie is $942/month compared to $649/month in Preston — a 45% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Preston has cheaper rent, Long Prairie actually has lower median home values ($130,100 vs $169,600).

Median household income in Long Prairie is $57,139 compared to $60,438 in Preston (-5.5%). Preston offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Prairie spend roughly 19.8% of their income on rent, more than the 12.9% in Preston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (42.5°F vs 44.8°F). Preston receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 24.1" in Long Prairie.