Very AffordableVery SafeALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Albany Minnesota Railroad Avenue · Skvader / CC BY-SA 4.0Albany Minn Oct 8 1911 · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainAlbany Minnesota city hall · Skvader / CC BY-SA 4.0
Albany is a small town of 2,795 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $78,977
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Albany stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Albany is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Albany city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.3
Albany's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Albany costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Albany, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$207,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$550
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,977
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Albany's violent crime rate is 280.9 per 100,000 residents
— 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
280.9 /100k
Property Crime
245.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Albany is served primarily by ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Albany, MN
National Avg
School District
ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Albany sees average highs of 20.8°F in January
and 80.9°F in July,
with 31.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Albany's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Albany roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $207,500 and median rent is $550/month.
Albany's violent crime rate is 280.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 245.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Albany are operated by ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 26.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Albany, MN has a population of 2,795, a median household income of $78,977, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Albany averages 20.8°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.0 inches
with about 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Albany, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56307.
The population of Albany, Minnesota is 2,795 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Albany: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $207,500, median household income $78,977, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Albany side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
