Oakes, ND vs Richardton, ND

Oakes, ND and Richardton, ND have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Oakes scores 67 while Richardton scores 64 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 Oakes is $740/month compared to $576/month in Richardton — a 29% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Richardton has cheaper rent, Oakes actually has lower median home values ($160,100 vs $188,900).

Median household income in Oakes is $64,750 compared to $69,844 in Richardton (-7.3%). Richardton offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Oakes spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, more than the 9.9% in Richardton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (44°F vs 42.8°F). Oakes receives more rainfall at 21.8" per year compared to 15.6" in Richardton.