What are the schools like in Cook, MN?

Cook is served primarily by ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 5 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Cook?

The median household income in Cook, MN is $43,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Cook, MN?

Cook has an average high temperature of 15.3°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 61.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Cook, MN affordable or expensive?

Cook's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cook is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $79,800 and the median rent is $643 per month.

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

Cook has a violent crime rate of 188.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1946.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cook, MN a Good Place to Live?

Cook is a small town of 459 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $43,750 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

All Cook 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: 87.0

Cook's overall cost of living index is 87.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cook costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cook, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$79,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$643	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Cook's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

188.9 /100k

Property Crime

1946.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cook is served primarily by ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cook, MN	National Avg
School District	ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cook sees average highs of 15.3°F in January and 77.1°F in July, with 27.7 inches of annual precipitation and 61.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cook, MN
Average High — January	15.3°F
Average High — July	77.1°F
Annual Precipitation	27.7"
Annual Snowfall	61.2"

Demographics

Metric	Cook, MN	National Avg
Population	459	—
Median Age	53.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	15.7%	22.2%
65 and over	34.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Orr, MN 17 mi Tower, MN 19 mi Mountain Iron, MN 21 mi Soudan, MN 21 mi Kinney, MN 22 mi

ZIP Codes in Cook

Cook, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55723

Cook vs Other Cities

Cook, MN vs Orr, MN Cook, MN vs Tower, MN Cook, MN vs Mountain Iron, MN Cook, MN vs Soudan, MN Cook, MN vs Kinney, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cook, MN affordable or expensive?

Cook's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cook roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $79,800 and median rent is $643/month.

What is the crime rate in Cook, MN?

Cook's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1946.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cook?

Public schools in Cook are operated by ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 5 elementary, several middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cook, MN a good place to live?

Cook, MN has a population of 459, a median household income of $43,750, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Cook?

Cook averages 15.3°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.7 inches with about 61.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cook?

Cook, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55723.

What is the population of Cook?

The population of Cook, Minnesota is 459 with a median age of 53.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cook?

Key numbers for living in Cook: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $79,800, median household income $43,750, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cook side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.