| Index | Alden | Minnesota | National | 
| Cost of living | 85 | 99 | 100 | 
| Goods & Services | 98 | 100 | 100 | 
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 | 
| Health care | 111 | 109 | 100 | 
| Housing | 56 | 100 | 100 | 
| Transportation | 95 | 97 | 100 | 
| Utilities | 92 | 93 | 100 | 

 
				
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				| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | 
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) | 
| Owners | $58,906 | $4,909 | $1,374 | $1,767 | 
| Renters | $53,125 | $4,427 | $1,240 | $1,594 | 
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax | 
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% | 
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) | 
| Minnesota | 5.35% | 9.85% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| Haircut | $25.06 | $24.26 | 3.3% | 
| Beauty Salon | $40.42 | $45.56 | 11.3% | 
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.70 | 1.1% | 
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 | 13.5% | 
| Movie | $10.06 | $12.13 | 17.1% | 
| Bowling | $15.00 | $18.00 | 16.7% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| Ground Beef | $5.78 | $5.84 | 1.1% | 
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 | 10.4% | 
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 | 1.9% | 
| Potatoes | $4.68 | $4.93 | 5.2% | 
| Pizza | $12.97 | $12.09 | 7.3% | 
| Beer | $9.18 | $10.41 | 11.8% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| Optometrist | $144.10 | $125.68 | 14.7% | 
| Doctor | $181.22 | $135.78 | 33.5% | 
| Dentist | $110.22 | $113.29 | 2.7% | 
| Ibuprofen | $11.40 | $10.65 | 7.0% | 
| Lipitor | $486.32 | $468.60 | 3.8% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| Home Price | $89,600.00 | $184,700.00 | 51.5% | 
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $1,813.63 | $2,346.69 | 22.7% | 
| Apartment Rent | $697.00 | $949.00 | 26.6% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 | 4.2% | 
| Tire Balancing | $54.83 | $59.92 | 8.5% | 
| Item | Alden | National avg. | Difference | 
| All Electricity | $169.27 | $193.99 | 12.7% | 
| Phone | $191.10 | $192.25 | 0.6% | 
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. | 
| Scarville, IA | 52 | 76 | 24.3% | 
| Walters, MN | 65 | 76 | 24.2% | 
| Bricelyn, MN | 292 | 78 | 21.7% | 
| Conger, MN | 130 | 81 | 19.2% | 
| Hartland, MN | 416 | 83 | 17.4% | 
| Alden, MN | 708 | 85 | 14.9% | 
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. | 
| Huttig, AR | 708 | 68 | 31.5% | 
| Ducor, CA | 708 | 97 | 3.2% | 
| Shelby, IA | 708 | 87 | 13.0% | 
| Sharpsburg, MD | 708 | 103 | 2.9% | 
| Hardwood Acres, MI | 708 | 98 | 1.6% | 
| Alden, MN | 708 | 85 | 14.9% |