Melrose, MN vs Taylors Falls, MN

Melrose is moderately more affordable than Taylors Falls, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Melrose scores 80 compared to 87 for Taylors Falls, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Taylors Falls can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Melrose is $1,061/month compared to $985/month in Taylors Falls — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Taylors Falls has cheaper rent, Melrose actually has lower median home values ($198,300 vs $256,000).

Median household income in Melrose is $58,107 compared to $61,548 in Taylors Falls (-5.6%). The higher salaries in Taylors Falls partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Melrose spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, more than the 19.2% in Taylors Falls.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (42.5°F vs 43.1°F). Taylors Falls receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 24.1" in Melrose.