Elbow Lake is a small town of 1,125 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,265
and a 6.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Elbow Lake 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 Elbow Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Elbow Lake 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: 91.6
Elbow Lake's overall cost of living index is 91.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Elbow Lake costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Elbow Lake, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$116,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$719
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,265
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Elbow Lake's violent crime rate is 50.2 per 100,000 residents
— 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
50.2 /100k
Property Crime
16.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Elbow Lake is served primarily by WEST CENTRAL AREA.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Elbow Lake, MN
National Avg
School District
WEST CENTRAL AREA
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Elbow Lake sees average highs of 18.4°F in January
and 80.8°F in July,
with 24.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.6 inches of snow per year.
Elbow Lake's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Elbow Lake roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $116,200 and median rent is $719/month.
Elbow Lake's violent crime rate is 50.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 16.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Elbow Lake are operated by WEST CENTRAL AREA.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Elbow Lake, MN has a population of 1,125, a median household income of $49,265, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%.
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.
Elbow Lake averages 18.4°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.1 inches
with about 44.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Elbow Lake, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56531.
The population of Elbow Lake, Minnesota is 1,125 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Elbow Lake: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $116,200, median household income $49,265, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elbow Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
