Medicine Lake, MN vs Waltham, MN

The cost of living difference between Medicine Lake, MN and Waltham, MN is dramatic. Waltham is 100.4% cheaper than Medicine Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Medicine Lake has a cost index of 151 while Waltham sits at 75, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Medicine Lake is $1,025/month compared to $1,069/month in Waltham — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Medicine Lake has cheaper rent, Waltham actually has lower median home values ($112,500 vs $1,014,500).

Median household income in Medicine Lake is $161,250 compared to $75,833 in Waltham (+112.6%). While Medicine Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Medicine Lake spend roughly 7.6% of their income on rent, less than the 16.9% in Waltham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 44.8°F). Waltham receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 30.7" in Medicine Lake.