Below Average CostVery SafeBrowns Valley Public School Dist
Business district, Browns Valley, MN-02 · Heritage Preservation Department - MNHS / CC BY 4.0Browns Valley Carnegie Library · McGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0Browns Valley flood 07 · JOR Engineering, Inc. / CC BY-SA 3.0
Browns Valley is a small town of 503 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $44,650
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Browns Valley 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 Browns Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Browns Valley 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: 91.3
Browns Valley's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Browns Valley costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Browns Valley, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$71,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$935
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,650
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Browns Valley's violent crime rate is 122.7 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.7 /100k
Property Crime
245.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Browns Valley is served primarily by Browns Valley Public School Dist.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Browns Valley, MN
National Avg
School District
Browns Valley Public School Dist
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Browns Valley sees average highs of 22.3°F in January
and 83.6°F in July,
with 25.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.2 inches of snow per year.
Browns Valley's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Browns Valley roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $71,600 and median rent is $935/month.
Browns Valley's violent crime rate is 122.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 245.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Browns Valley are operated by Browns Valley Public School Dist.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 6.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Browns Valley, MN has a population of 503, a median household income of $44,650, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Browns Valley averages 22.3°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.3 inches
with about 44.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Browns Valley, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56219.
The population of Browns Valley, Minnesota is 503 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Browns Valley: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $71,600, median household income $44,650, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Browns Valley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
