Very AffordableVery SafeTRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Median Income
$50,536
household / year
Median Home Value
$118,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$495
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100
Is Karlstad, MN a Good Place to Live?
Karlstad is a small town of 662 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $50,536
and a 1.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Karlstad 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 Karlstad is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Karlstad 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: 88.7
Karlstad's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Karlstad costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Karlstad, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$495
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,536
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Karlstad's violent crime rate is 46.5 per 100,000 residents
— 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
46.5 /100k
Property Crime
232.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Karlstad is served primarily by TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Karlstad, MN
National Avg
School District
TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Karlstad sees average highs of 15.5°F in January
and 81.7°F in July,
with 22.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Karlstad's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Karlstad roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,600 and median rent is $495/month.
Karlstad's violent crime rate is 46.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 232.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Karlstad are operated by TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Karlstad, MN has a population of 662, a median household income of $50,536, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%.
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.
Karlstad averages 15.5°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.9 inches
with about 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Karlstad, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56732.
The population of Karlstad, Minnesota is 662 with a median age of 48.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Karlstad: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $118,600, median household income $50,536, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Karlstad side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.