What are the schools like in Baxter, MN?

Baxter is served primarily by BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Baxter?

The median household income in Baxter, MN is $67,064 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Baxter, MN?

Baxter has an average high temperature of 19.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Baxter, MN affordable or expensive?

Baxter's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Baxter is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $245,700 and the median rent is $1,095 per month.

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

Baxter has a violent crime rate of 173.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3081.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Baxter, MN a Good Place to Live?

Baxter is a small town of 8,668 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $67,064 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Baxter stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Baxter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Baxter 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: 98.6

Baxter's overall cost of living index is 98.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Baxter costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Baxter, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$245,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,095	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,064	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Baxter's violent crime rate is 173.0 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

173.0 /100k

Property Crime

3081.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Baxter is served primarily by BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Baxter, MN	National Avg
School District	BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Baxter sees average highs of 19.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 30.6 inches of annual precipitation and 48.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Baxter, MN
Average High — January	19.6°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	30.6"
Annual Snowfall	48.2"

Demographics

Metric	Baxter, MN	National Avg
Population	8,668	—
Median Age	43.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.8%	22.2%
65 and over	23.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brainerd, MN 4 mi East Gull Lake, MN 6 mi Pillager, MN 10 mi Merrifield, MN 10 mi Nisswa, MN 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Baxter

Baxter, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56425

Baxter vs Other Cities

Baxter, MN vs Brainerd, MN Baxter, MN vs East Gull Lake, MN Baxter, MN vs Pillager, MN Baxter, MN vs Merrifield, MN Baxter, MN vs Nisswa, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baxter, MN affordable or expensive?

Baxter's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Baxter roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $245,700 and median rent is $1,095/month.

What is the crime rate in Baxter, MN?

Baxter's violent crime rate is 173.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3081.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Baxter?

Public schools in Baxter are operated by BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Baxter, MN a good place to live?

Baxter, MN has a population of 8,668, a median household income of $67,064, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. 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 Baxter?

Baxter averages 19.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.6 inches with about 48.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Baxter?

Baxter, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56425.

What is the population of Baxter?

The population of Baxter, Minnesota is 8,668 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Baxter?

Key numbers for living in Baxter: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $245,700, median household income $67,064, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Baxter side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.