Owatonna, MN vs Waseca, MN

Waseca is moderately more affordable than Owatonna, with a 14.4% lower cost of living index. Owatonna scores 83 compared to 73 for Waseca, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Owatonna can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Owatonna is $1,010/month compared to $796/month in Waseca — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waseca is more affordable at $185,600 median vs $234,600.

Median household income in Owatonna is $81,276 compared to $61,546 in Waseca (+32.1%). While Owatonna is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Owatonna spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.5% in Waseca.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (44.8°F vs 44.8°F). Waseca receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 34.7" in Owatonna.