Bowlus is a small town of 248 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $67,500
and a 2.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bowlus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Bowlus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bowlus 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: 94.2
Bowlus's overall cost of living index is 94.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bowlus costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bowlus, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$141,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$880
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bowlus's violent crime rate is 110.8 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
110.8 /100k
Property Crime
1398.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bowlus, 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
6.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bowlus sees average highs of 19.5°F in January
and 80.3°F in July,
with 28.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 50.7 inches of snow per year.
Bowlus's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bowlus roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $141,000 and median rent is $880/month.
Bowlus's violent crime rate is 110.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1398.8 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.
Bowlus, MN has a population of 248, a median household income of $67,500, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%.
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.
Bowlus averages 19.5°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.4 inches
with about 50.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Bowlus, Minnesota is 248 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bowlus: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $141,000, median household income $67,500, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bowlus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
