Mounds View, MN vs Watertown, MN

Watertown is moderately more affordable than Mounds View, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Mounds View scores 98 compared to 92 for Watertown, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mounds View can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mounds View is $1,216/month compared to $967/month in Watertown — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Watertown has cheaper rent, Mounds View actually has lower median home values ($294,500 vs $315,200).

Median household income in Mounds View is $90,148 compared to $93,008 in Watertown (-3.1%). Watertown offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Mounds View spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Watertown.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.8°F vs 46.7°F). Mounds View receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 30.6" in Watertown.