Austin, TX vs Cottage Grove, MN
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Cottage Grove
77.4
#246 nationally
Austin leads in walk score (42 vs 16). Cottage Grove leads in median household income ($117,673 vs $91,461). Cottage Grove leads in cost of living index (114 vs 129).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Cottage Grove, MN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 77.4 (#246) |
| Population | 967,862 | 42,056 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $402,376 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $117,673 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 16 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 1.1 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 114 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+8.9 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
C+
77.4 Score
Cottage Grove, MN
Small Minnesota city with local appeal
Median Home
$402,376
Population
42,056
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
16
Midwest
View Cottage Grove, MN →
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