Very AffordableVery SafeRegion 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop
Business district in Cosmos, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0PanoramioCrop-LuceLineBikeWalkTrailCosmosMN · bryan&darlene / CC BY-SA 3.0Cosmos City Hall, Cosmos, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0
Cosmos is a small town of 534 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $53,295
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cosmos 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 Cosmos is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cosmos 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: 89.8
Cosmos's overall cost of living index is 89.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cosmos costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cosmos, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$94,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$654
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,295
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cosmos's violent crime rate is 146.4 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
146.4 /100k
Property Crime
792.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cosmos is served primarily by Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cosmos, MN
National Avg
School District
Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
16
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
4.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cosmos sees average highs of 20.1°F in January
and 81.2°F in July,
with 29.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.7 inches of snow per year.
Cosmos's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cosmos roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $94,800 and median rent is $654/month.
Cosmos's violent crime rate is 146.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 792.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cosmos are operated by Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop.
The district has 1 elementary, 3 middle, and 16 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1. 8.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cosmos, MN has a population of 534, a median household income of $53,295, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Cosmos averages 20.1°F in January and 81.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.8 inches
with about 37.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cosmos, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56228.
The population of Cosmos, Minnesota is 534 with a median age of 46.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cosmos: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $94,800, median household income $53,295, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cosmos side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
