Nelson, MN vs Wilton, MN

Nelson is moderately more affordable than Wilton, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Nelson scores 74 compared to 78 for Wilton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wilton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Nelson is $917/month compared to $1,067/month in Wilton — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Nelson has cheaper rent, Wilton actually has lower median home values ($152,500 vs $156,700).

Median household income in Nelson is $52,708 compared to $68,125 in Wilton (-22.6%). While Wilton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Nelson spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, more than the 18.8% in Wilton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (42.5°F vs 40.4°F). Nelson receives more rainfall at 24.1" per year compared to 23.9" in Wilton.