What are the schools like in Lakefield, MN?

Lakefield is served primarily by Jackson County Central School Dist.. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.7:1.

What is the median household income in Lakefield?

The median household income in Lakefield, MN is $58,977 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.4%.

What is the weather like in Lakefield, MN?

Lakefield has an average high temperature of 22.0°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.5 inches.

Lakefield, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lakefield, MN affordable or expensive?

Lakefield's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lakefield is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $112,500 and the median rent is $829 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lakefield, MN?

Lakefield has a violent crime rate of 58.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of None per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lakefield, MN a Good Place to Live?

Lakefield is a small town of 1,626 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $58,977 and a 0.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Lakefield 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 Lakefield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lakefield 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: 92.6

Lakefield's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lakefield costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lakefield, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$112,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$829	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,977	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Lakefield's violent crime rate is 58.4 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

58.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lakefield is served primarily by Jackson County Central School Dist.. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lakefield, MN	National Avg
School District	Jackson County Central School Dist.	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lakefield sees average highs of 22.0°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 30.5 inches of annual precipitation and 48.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lakefield, MN
Average High — January	22.0°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	30.5"
Annual Snowfall	48.5"

Demographics

Metric	Lakefield, MN	National Avg
Population	1,626	—
Median Age	41.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	27.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Okabena, MN 9 mi Jackson, MN 10 mi Wilder, MN 11 mi Heron Lake, MN 11 mi Fish Lake, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Lakefield

Lakefield, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56150

Lakefield vs Other Cities

Lakefield, MN vs Okabena, MN Lakefield, MN vs Jackson, MN Lakefield, MN vs Wilder, MN Lakefield, MN vs Heron Lake, MN Lakefield, MN vs Fish Lake, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lakefield, MN affordable or expensive?

Lakefield's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lakefield roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $112,500 and median rent is $829/month.

What is the crime rate in Lakefield, MN?

Lakefield's violent crime rate is 58.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is None per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lakefield?

Public schools in Lakefield are operated by Jackson County Central School Dist.. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 15.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lakefield, MN a good place to live?

Lakefield, MN has a population of 1,626, a median household income of $58,977, and an unemployment rate of 0.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Lakefield?

Lakefield averages 22.0°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.5 inches with about 48.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lakefield?

Lakefield, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56150.

What is the population of Lakefield?

The population of Lakefield, Minnesota is 1,626 with a median age of 41.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lakefield?

Key numbers for living in Lakefield: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $112,500, median household income $58,977, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lakefield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.