Lake Benton is a small town of 658 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $45,500
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake Benton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Lake Benton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake Benton 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: 87.2
Lake Benton's overall cost of living index is 87.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake Benton costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake Benton, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$93,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$475
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lake Benton's violent crime rate is 17.7 per 100,000 residents
— 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
17.7 /100k
Property Crime
70.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake Benton is served primarily by LAKE BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake Benton, MN
National Avg
School District
LAKE BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake Benton sees average highs of 22.4°F in January
and 82.4°F in July,
with 29.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.0 inches of snow per year.
Lake Benton's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake Benton roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $93,800 and median rent is $475/month.
Lake Benton's violent crime rate is 17.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 70.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake Benton are operated by LAKE BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake Benton, MN has a population of 658, a median household income of $45,500, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Lake Benton averages 22.4°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.9 inches
with about 42.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake Benton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56149.
The population of Lake Benton, Minnesota is 658 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake Benton: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $93,800, median household income $45,500, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Benton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
