Albert Lea is a small city of 18,434 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $56,347
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Albert Lea stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Albert Lea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Albert Lea 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: 93.3
Albert Lea's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Albert Lea costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Albert Lea, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$134,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$814
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,347
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Albert Lea's violent crime rate is 208.9 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
208.9 /100k
Property Crime
1489.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Albert Lea is served primarily by Albert Lea Public School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Albert Lea, MN
National Avg
School District
Albert Lea Public School District
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Albert Lea sees average highs of 22.5°F in January
and 81.6°F in July,
with 35.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.5 inches of snow per year.
Albert Lea's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Albert Lea roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $134,500 and median rent is $814/month.
Albert Lea's violent crime rate is 208.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1489.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Albert Lea are operated by Albert Lea Public School District.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 15.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Albert Lea, MN has a population of 18,434, a median household income of $56,347, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
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.
Albert Lea averages 22.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.8 inches
with about 39.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Albert Lea, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56007.
The population of Albert Lea, Minnesota is 18,434 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Albert Lea: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $134,500, median household income $56,347, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Albert Lea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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