Very AffordableSafer than AverageROCORI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
City of Cold Spring, Minnesota - Water Tower (28818830483) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota / CC BY-SA 2.02013-0408-ColdSpringBrewery · Bobak Ha'Eri / CC BY 3.0
Cold Spring is a small town of 4,180 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $71,609
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cold Spring stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cold Spring is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cold Spring 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
Cold Spring's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cold Spring costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cold Spring, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$222,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,246
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,609
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Cold Spring'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
Cold Spring is served primarily by ROCORI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cold Spring, MN
National Avg
School District
ROCORI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cold Spring sees average highs of 20.8°F in January
and 80.9°F in July,
with 31.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Cold Spring's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cold Spring roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $222,800 and median rent is $1,246/month.
Cold Spring'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.
Public schools in Cold Spring are operated by ROCORI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cold Spring, MN has a population of 4,180, a median household income of $71,609, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Cold Spring averages 20.8°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.0 inches
with about 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Cold Spring, Minnesota is 4,180 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cold Spring: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $222,800, median household income $71,609, 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 Cold Spring side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
