Balaton is a small town of 548 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $53,333
and a 7.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Balaton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Balaton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Balaton 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: 92.8
Balaton's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Balaton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Balaton, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$83,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,025
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,333
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Balaton's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
188.4 /100k
Property Crime
537.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Balaton, 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
17.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Balaton sees average highs of 22.8°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 29.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 49.3 inches of snow per year.
Balaton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Balaton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $83,600 and median rent is $1,025/month.
Balaton's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 537.8 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.
Balaton, MN has a population of 548, a median household income of $53,333, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%.
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.
Balaton averages 22.8°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.2 inches
with about 49.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Balaton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56115.
The population of Balaton, Minnesota is 548 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Balaton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $83,600, median household income $53,333, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Balaton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
