Very AffordableVery SafeBARNUM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Barnum, Minnesota-commercial area at Main Street · Myotus / CC0Carlton County Fair Minnesota (30050483125) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0Public Library, Barnum Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Barnum Main Street, Barnum, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0
Barnum is a small town of 491 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $54,688
and a 7.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Barnum 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 Barnum is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Barnum 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: 87.0
Barnum's overall cost of living index is 87.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Barnum costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Barnum, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$130,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$787
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,688
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Barnum's violent crime rate is 133.8 per 100,000 residents
— 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
133.8 /100k
Property Crime
560.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Barnum is served primarily by BARNUM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Barnum, MN
National Avg
School District
BARNUM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Barnum sees average highs of 19.8°F in January
and 80.2°F in July,
with 31.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 71.3 inches of snow per year.
Barnum's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Barnum roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $130,500 and median rent is $787/month.
Barnum's violent crime rate is 133.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 560.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Barnum are operated by BARNUM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Barnum, MN has a population of 491, a median household income of $54,688, and an unemployment rate of 7.3%.
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.
Barnum averages 19.8°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.5 inches
with about 71.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Barnum, Minnesota is 491 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Barnum: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $130,500, median household income $54,688, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Barnum side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
