Maplewood, MN vs Northfield, MN

Northfield is moderately more affordable than Maplewood, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Maplewood scores 100 compared to 93 for Northfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Maplewood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Maplewood is $1,316/month compared to $1,036/month in Northfield — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Northfield has cheaper rent, Maplewood actually has lower median home values ($291,300 vs $305,300).

Median household income in Maplewood is $88,534 compared to $92,000 in Northfield (-3.8%). Northfield offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Maplewood spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, more than the 13.5% in Northfield.

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