Moorhead, MN vs West St. Paul, MN

Moorhead is moderately more affordable than West St. Paul, with a 14.2% lower cost of living index. Moorhead scores 82 compared to 96 for West St. Paul, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of West St. Paul can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Moorhead is $1,017/month compared to $1,195/month in West St. Paul — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Moorhead is more affordable at $246,300 median vs $281,800.

Median household income in Moorhead is $69,371 compared to $70,738 in West St. Paul (-1.9%). West St. Paul does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Moorhead spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, less than the 20.3% in West St. Paul.

Climate-wise, West St. Paul is notably warmer with an average of 46.5°F compared to 42.2°F in Moorhead. West St. Paul receives more rainfall at 29.2" per year compared to 24" in Moorhead.