What are the schools like in Brooten, MN?

Brooten is served primarily by BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SCHOOL DIST. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Brooten?

The median household income in Brooten, MN is $43,542 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

What is the weather like in Brooten, MN?

Brooten has an average high temperature of 20.3°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Brooten, MN affordable or expensive?

Brooten's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brooten is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $109,700 and the median rent is $925 per month.

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

Brooten has a violent crime rate of 233.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1831.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brooten, MN a Good Place to Live?

Brooten is a small town of 578 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $43,542 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Brooten 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 Brooten is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Brooten 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: 89.3

Brooten's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brooten costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Brooten, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$109,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$925	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,542	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Brooten's violent crime rate is 233.4 per 100,000 residents — 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

233.4 /100k

Property Crime

1831.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Brooten is served primarily by BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SCHOOL DIST. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brooten, MN	National Avg
School District	BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SCHOOL DIST	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brooten sees average highs of 20.3°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 29.7 inches of annual precipitation and 50.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Brooten, MN
Average High — January	20.3°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	29.7"
Annual Snowfall	50.2"

Demographics

Metric	Brooten, MN	National Avg
Population	578	—
Median Age	45.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	19.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Belgrade, MN 7 mi Sedan, MN 8 mi Elrosa, MN 9 mi Sunburg, MN 12 mi Spring Hill, MN 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Brooten

Brooten, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56316

Brooten vs Other Cities

Brooten, MN vs Belgrade, MN Brooten, MN vs Sedan, MN Brooten, MN vs Elrosa, MN Brooten, MN vs Sunburg, MN Brooten, MN vs Spring Hill, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brooten, MN affordable or expensive?

Brooten's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Brooten roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $109,700 and median rent is $925/month.

What is the crime rate in Brooten, MN?

Brooten's violent crime rate is 233.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1831.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Brooten?

Public schools in Brooten are operated by BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SCHOOL DIST. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brooten, MN a good place to live?

Brooten, MN has a population of 578, a median household income of $43,542, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Brooten?

Brooten averages 20.3°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.7 inches with about 50.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brooten?

Brooten, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56316.

What is the population of Brooten?

The population of Brooten, Minnesota is 578 with a median age of 45.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Brooten?

Key numbers for living in Brooten: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $109,700, median household income $43,542, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Brooten side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.