Below Average CostVery SafeLESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.
Lester Prairie, Minnesota 05-Businesses · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Lester Prairie, Minnesota 04-Welcome sign and gazebo · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Lester Prairie, Minnesota 01-Water tower · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Veterans memorial Lester Prairie MN · Pete unseth / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lester Prairie is a small town of 1,918 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $81,597
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lester Prairie stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Lester Prairie is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lester Prairie 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: 93.7
Lester Prairie's overall cost of living index is 93.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lester Prairie costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lester Prairie, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$202,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$665
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
86.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,597
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lester Prairie's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.2 /100k
Property Crime
757.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lester Prairie is served primarily by LESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST..
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lester Prairie, MN
National Avg
School District
LESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lester Prairie sees average highs of 21.0°F in January
and 82.3°F in July,
with 32.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Lester Prairie's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lester Prairie roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $202,500 and median rent is $665/month.
Lester Prairie's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 757.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lester Prairie are operated by LESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST..
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lester Prairie, MN has a population of 1,918, a median household income of $81,597, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
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.
Lester Prairie averages 21.0°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.5 inches
with about 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lester Prairie, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55354.
The population of Lester Prairie, Minnesota is 1,918 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lester Prairie: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $202,500, median household income $81,597, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lester Prairie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
