What are the schools like in Atwater, MN?

Atwater is served primarily by A.C.G.C. Public School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Atwater?

The median household income in Atwater, MN is $65,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Atwater, MN?

Atwater has an average high temperature of 20.1°F in January and 81.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.1 inches.

Atwater, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Atwater, MN affordable or expensive?

Atwater's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Atwater is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $133,100 and the median rent is $726 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Atwater, MN?

Atwater has a violent crime rate of 300.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 986.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Atwater, MN a Good Place to Live?

Atwater is a small town of 1,210 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $65,000 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Atwater stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Atwater is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Atwater 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: 92.3

Atwater's overall cost of living index is 92.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Atwater costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Atwater, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$133,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$726	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Atwater's violent crime rate is 300.9 per 100,000 residents — 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

300.9 /100k

Property Crime

986.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Atwater is served primarily by A.C.G.C. Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Atwater, MN	National Avg
School District	A.C.G.C. Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Atwater sees average highs of 20.1°F in January and 81.2°F in July, with 29.8 inches of annual precipitation and 46.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Atwater, MN
Average High — January	20.1°F
Average High — July	81.2°F
Annual Precipitation	29.8"
Annual Snowfall	46.1"

Demographics

Metric	Atwater, MN	National Avg
Population	1,210	—
Median Age	31.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	33.0%	22.2%
65 and over	9.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grove City, MN 5 mi Kandiyohi, MN 8 mi Spicer, MN 10 mi Litchfield, MN 12 mi Willmar, MN 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Atwater

Atwater, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56209

Atwater vs Other Cities

Atwater, MN vs Grove City, MN Atwater, MN vs Kandiyohi, MN Atwater, MN vs Spicer, MN Atwater, MN vs Litchfield, MN Atwater, MN vs Willmar, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Atwater, MN affordable or expensive?

Atwater's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Atwater roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $133,100 and median rent is $726/month.

What is the crime rate in Atwater, MN?

Atwater's violent crime rate is 300.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 986.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Atwater?

Public schools in Atwater are operated by A.C.G.C. Public School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Atwater, MN a good place to live?

Atwater, MN has a population of 1,210, a median household income of $65,000, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Atwater?

Atwater averages 20.1°F in January and 81.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.8 inches with about 46.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Atwater?

Atwater, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56209.

What is the population of Atwater?

The population of Atwater, Minnesota is 1,210 with a median age of 31.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Atwater?

Key numbers for living in Atwater: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $133,100, median household income $65,000, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Atwater side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.