Cottonwood is a small town of 1,150 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $79,457
and a 3.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cottonwood 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: 93.0
Cottonwood's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cottonwood costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cottonwood, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$167,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$683
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$79,457
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
188.4 /100k
Property Crime
537.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cottonwood is served primarily by LAKEVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cottonwood, MN
National Avg
School District
LAKEVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cottonwood sees average highs of 24.5°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 28.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.5 inches of snow per year.
Cottonwood's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cottonwood roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $167,300 and median rent is $683/month.
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 537.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cottonwood are operated by LAKEVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cottonwood, MN has a population of 1,150, a median household income of $79,457, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%.
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.
Cottonwood averages 24.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.9 inches
with about 43.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cottonwood, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56229.
The population of Cottonwood, Minnesota is 1,150 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cottonwood: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $167,300, median household income $79,457, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cottonwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
