North St. Paul, MN vs Rockford, MN

North St. Paul, MN and Rockford, MN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.3% difference in their overall index. North St. Paul scores 100 while Rockford scores 96 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in North St. Paul is $1,304/month compared to $1,254/month in Rockford — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rockford is more affordable at $265,900 median vs $286,600.

Median household income in North St. Paul is $81,641 compared to $82,228 in Rockford (-0.7%). Rockford offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of North St. Paul spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Rockford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.5°F vs 45.8°F). Rockford receives more rainfall at 30.7" per year compared to 29.2" in North St. Paul.