Red Lake, MN vs Stephen, MN

Red Lake is moderately more affordable than Stephen, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Red Lake scores 58 compared to 67 for Stephen, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Stephen can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Red Lake is $426/month compared to $871/month in Stephen — a 51% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Red Lake has cheaper rent, Stephen actually has lower median home values ($83,800 vs $136,000).

Median household income in Red Lake is $55,092 compared to $63,750 in Stephen (-13.6%). The higher salaries in Stephen partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Red Lake spend roughly 9.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16.4% in Stephen.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (37.7°F vs 39.8°F). Red Lake receives more rainfall at 24.3" per year compared to 21.7" in Stephen.