What are the schools like in Crookston, MN?

Crookston is served primarily by Crookston Public School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Crookston?

The median household income in Crookston, MN is $52,557 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Crookston, MN?

Crookston has an average high temperature of 15.8°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 22.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Crookston, MN affordable or expensive?

Crookston's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Crookston is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,400 and the median rent is $825 per month.

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

Crookston has a violent crime rate of 416.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 916.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Crookston, MN a Good Place to Live?

Crookston is a small town of 7,472 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $52,557 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Crookston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Crookston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Crookston 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: 86.2

Crookston's overall cost of living index is 86.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Crookston costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Crookston, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$825	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,557	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Crookston's violent crime rate is 416.4 per 100,000 residents — 10% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

416.4 /100k

Property Crime

916.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Crookston is served primarily by Crookston Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Crookston, MN	National Avg
School District	Crookston Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Crookston sees average highs of 15.8°F in January and 80.3°F in July, with 22.4 inches of annual precipitation and 49.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Crookston, MN
Average High — January	15.8°F
Average High — July	80.3°F
Annual Precipitation	22.4"
Annual Snowfall	49.9"

Demographics

Metric	Crookston, MN	National Avg
Population	7,472	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.1%	18.9%
Asian	3.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fisher, MN 9 mi Climax, MN 15 mi Beltrami, MN 16 mi Red Lake Falls, MN 17 mi Nielsville, MN 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Crookston

Crookston, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56716

Crookston vs Other Cities

Crookston, MN vs Fisher, MN Crookston, MN vs Climax, MN Crookston, MN vs Beltrami, MN Crookston, MN vs Red Lake Falls, MN Crookston, MN vs Nielsville, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crookston, MN affordable or expensive?

Crookston's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Crookston roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,400 and median rent is $825/month.

What is the crime rate in Crookston, MN?

Crookston's violent crime rate is 416.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 916.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Crookston?

Public schools in Crookston are operated by Crookston Public School District. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Crookston, MN a good place to live?

Crookston, MN has a population of 7,472, a median household income of $52,557, 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.

What is the weather like in Crookston?

Crookston averages 15.8°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.4 inches with about 49.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Crookston?

Crookston, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56716.

What is the population of Crookston?

The population of Crookston, Minnesota is 7,472 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Crookston?

Key numbers for living in Crookston: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $161,400, median household income $52,557, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Crookston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.