Madison, MN vs Pipestone, MN

Pipestone is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Madison scores 70 compared to 64 for Pipestone, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison 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 $722/month in Pipestone — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Pipestone is more affordable at $102,000 median vs $104,600.

Median household income in Madison is $56,435 compared to $61,442 in Pipestone (-8.1%). Pipestone 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, more than the 14.1% in Pipestone.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (43°F vs 45.1°F). Pipestone receives more rainfall at 29.6" per year compared to 22.7" in Madison.