Backus is a small town of 320 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,250
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Backus 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 Backus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Backus 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: 88.0
Backus's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Backus costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Backus, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$102,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$494
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Backus's violent crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.9 /100k
Property Crime
450.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Backus, 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
9.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Backus sees average highs of 18.8°F in January
and 79.8°F in July,
with 28.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Backus's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Backus roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $102,700 and median rent is $494/month.
Backus's violent crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 450.0 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.
Backus, MN has a population of 320, a median household income of $49,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Backus averages 18.8°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.0 inches
with about 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Backus, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56435.
The population of Backus, Minnesota is 320 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Backus: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $102,700, median household income $49,250, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Backus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.