Madison, MN vs Wadena, MN

Madison, MN and Wadena, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Madison scores 70 while Wadena scores 67 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Madison is $920/month compared to $683/month in Wadena — a 35% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wadena has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($104,600 vs $158,700).

Median household income in Madison is $56,435 compared to $45,850 in Wadena (+23.1%). While Madison is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Madison spend roughly 19.6% of their income on rent, more than the 17.9% in Wadena.

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