Kettle River City Hall and Fire Department · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0Main Street looking north, Kettle River, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Farmer's State Bank building · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0Kettle River Feeds building · Lorie Shaull / CC BY-SA 4.0
Kettle River is a small town of 117 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $51,250
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kettle River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kettle River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kettle 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: 87.0
Kettle River's overall cost of living index is 87.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kettle River costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kettle River, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$106,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$767
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Kettle River's violent crime rate is 133.8 per 100,000 residents
— 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
133.8 /100k
Property Crime
560.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Kettle River, MN
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kettle River sees average highs of 19.8°F in January
and 80.2°F in July,
with 31.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 59.2 inches of snow per year.
Kettle River's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kettle River roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $106,300 and median rent is $767/month.
Kettle River's violent crime rate is 133.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 560.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Kettle River, MN has a population of 117, a median household income of $51,250, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
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.
Kettle River averages 19.8°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.5 inches
with about 59.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kettle River, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55757.
The population of Kettle River, Minnesota is 117 with a median age of 48.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kettle River: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $106,300, median household income $51,250, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kettle River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
