Sandstone, MN vs St. Joseph, MN

Sandstone is moderately more affordable than St. Joseph, with a 11.6% lower cost of living index. Sandstone scores 76 compared to 86 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Joseph can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Sandstone is $1,011/month compared to $1,139/month in St. Joseph — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sandstone is more affordable at $137,500 median vs $240,300.

Median household income in Sandstone is $50,288 compared to $75,217 in St. Joseph (-33.1%). While St. Joseph is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Sandstone spend roughly 24.1% of their income on rent, more than the 18.2% in St. Joseph.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (41.4°F vs 42.9°F). Sandstone receives more rainfall at 33.3" per year compared to 28.5" in St. Joseph.