Madison, MN vs Park Rapids, MN

Madison is moderately more affordable than Park Rapids, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Madison scores 70 compared to 79 for Park Rapids, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Park Rapids can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Madison is $920/month compared to $912/month in Park Rapids — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Park Rapids has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($104,600 vs $218,500).

Median household income in Madison is $56,435 compared to $45,800 in Park Rapids (+23.2%). Madison offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Madison spend roughly 19.6% of their income on rent, less than the 23.9% in Park Rapids.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (43°F vs 40.4°F). Park Rapids receives more rainfall at 23.9" per year compared to 22.7" in Madison.