Median Income
$95,597
household / year
Median Home Value
$305,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,244
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

Is Elk River, MN a Good Place to Live?

Elk River is a small city of 25,936 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $95,597 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Elk River stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Elk River 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: 104.5

Elk River's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elk River costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric Elk River, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $305,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,244 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 78.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $95,597 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elk River's violent crime rate is 89.8 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
89.8 /100k
Property Crime
1006.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elk River is served primarily by Elk River Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Elk River, MN National Avg
School District Elk River Public School District —
Elementary Schools 11 —
Middle Schools 6 —
High Schools 9 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 20.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elk River sees average highs of 22.5°F in January and 83.4°F in July, with 32.9 inches of annual precipitation and 35.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricElk River, MN
Average High — January22.5°F
Average High — July83.4°F
Annual Precipitation32.9"
Annual Snowfall35.7"

Demographics

MetricElk River, MNNational Avg
Population25,936—
Median Age35.738.9
Unemployment Rate2.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.6 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)86.6%59.3%
Black or African American3.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino5.3%18.9%
Asian1.1%6.3%
Under 1823.8%22.2%
65 and over13.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Otsego, MN 5 mi Nowthen, MN 6 mi Ramsey, MN 7 mi Zimmerman, MN 8 mi Albertville, MN 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Elk River

Elk River, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55330

Elk River vs Other Cities

Elk River, MN vs Otsego, MN Elk River, MN vs Nowthen, MN Elk River, MN vs Ramsey, MN Elk River, MN vs Zimmerman, MN Elk River, MN vs Albertville, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Elk River's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Elk River roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $305,700 and median rent is $1,244/month.
Elk River's violent crime rate is 89.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1006.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Elk River are operated by Elk River Public School District. The district has 11 elementary, 6 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1. 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Elk River, MN has a population of 25,936, a median household income of $95,597, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Elk River averages 22.5°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.9 inches with about 35.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Elk River, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55330.
The population of Elk River, Minnesota is 25,936 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Elk River: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $305,700, median household income $95,597, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elk River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.