Below Average CostVery SafeCASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Cass Lake, Minnesota-09 · Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Photograph of Supervisor's Building at Cass Lake, Minnesota - DPLA - e7f5957d719e898840e5345b3d7b46be · Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Region 9 (Eastern Region). 1965 / Public domainCass Lake, Minnesota-02 Post Office · Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Cass Lake, Minnesota-04 -Armory · Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0
Cass Lake is a small town of 505 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $39,732
and a 15.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cass Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cass Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cass Lake 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: 92.8
Cass Lake's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cass Lake costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cass Lake, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$86,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,005
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
28.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,732
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cass Lake's violent crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.9 /100k
Property Crime
450.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cass Lake is served primarily by CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cass Lake, MN
National Avg
School District
CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cass Lake sees average highs of 17.8°F in January
and 79.1°F in July,
with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.9 inches of snow per year.
Cass Lake's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cass Lake roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $86,700 and median rent is $1,005/month.
Cass Lake's violent crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 450.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cass Lake are operated by CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cass Lake, MN has a population of 505, a median household income of $39,732, and an unemployment rate of 15.9%.
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.
Cass Lake averages 17.8°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches
with about 48.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cass Lake, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56633.
The population of Cass Lake, Minnesota is 505 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cass Lake: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $86,700, median household income $39,732, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cass Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
