Alvarado is a small town of 280 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $75,000
and a 2.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Alvarado stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Alvarado is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Alvarado 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: 89.2
Alvarado's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Alvarado costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Alvarado, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$112,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$545
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Alvarado's violent crime rate is 192.8 per 100,000 residents
— 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
192.8 /100k
Property Crime
139.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Alvarado, MN
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Alvarado sees average highs of 13.6°F in January
and 80.6°F in July,
with 22.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Alvarado's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Alvarado roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $112,500 and median rent is $545/month.
Alvarado's violent crime rate is 192.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 139.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Alvarado, MN has a population of 280, a median household income of $75,000, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%.
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.
Alvarado averages 13.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.9 inches
with about 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Alvarado, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56710.
The population of Alvarado, Minnesota is 280 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Alvarado: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $112,500, median household income $75,000, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alvarado side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.