Below Average CostSafer than AverageEAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Finland Avenue in Finlayson, Minnesota · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0Northern Pacific Depot building in Finlayson, Minnesota · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0Finlayson Giese Community Center in Finlayson, Minnesota · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0City of Finlayson building in Finlayson, Minnesota · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0
Finlayson is a small town of 190 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,464
and a 19.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Finlayson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Finlayson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Finlayson 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: 94.7
Finlayson's overall cost of living index is 94.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Finlayson costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Finlayson, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$159,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$875
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,464
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Finlayson's violent crime rate is 263.7 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
263.7 /100k
Property Crime
1190.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Finlayson is served primarily by EAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Finlayson, MN
National Avg
School District
EAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Finlayson sees average highs of 20.1°F in January
and 78.8°F in July,
with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Finlayson's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Finlayson roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $159,600 and median rent is $875/month.
Finlayson's violent crime rate is 263.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1190.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Finlayson are operated by EAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 12.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Finlayson, MN has a population of 190, a median household income of $49,464, and an unemployment rate of 19.8%.
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.
Finlayson averages 20.1°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches
with about 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Finlayson, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55735.
The population of Finlayson, Minnesota is 190 with a median age of 47.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Finlayson: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $159,600, median household income $49,464, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Finlayson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
