Median Income
$52,031
household / year
Median Home Value
$293,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$641
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Lutsen, MN a Good Place to Live?

Lutsen is a small town of 225 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $52,031 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Lutsen stands out for an affordable cost of living, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lutsen is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lutsen 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: 95.3

Lutsen's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lutsen costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric Lutsen, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $293,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $641 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 66.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $52,031 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lutsen's violent crime rate is 274.6 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
274.6 /100k
Property Crime
1116.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric Lutsen, 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 52.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.1% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lutsen sees average highs of 17.0°F in January and 72.9°F in July, with 31.9 inches of annual precipitation and 50.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricLutsen, MN
Average High — January17.0°F
Average High — July72.9°F
Annual Precipitation31.9"
Annual Snowfall50.9"

Demographics

MetricLutsen, MNNational Avg
Population225—
Median Age58.138.9
Unemployment Rate5.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time7.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)84.0%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino13.3%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 180.0%22.2%
65 and over37.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grand Marais, MN 17 mi Finland, MN 31 mi Silver Bay, MN 38 mi Beaver Bay, MN 41 mi Winton, MN 54 mi

ZIP Codes in Lutsen

Lutsen, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55612

Lutsen vs Other Cities

Lutsen, MN vs Grand Marais, MN Lutsen, MN vs Finland, MN Lutsen, MN vs Silver Bay, MN Lutsen, MN vs Beaver Bay, MN Lutsen, MN vs Winton, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Lutsen's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lutsen roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $293,800 and median rent is $641/month.
Lutsen's violent crime rate is 274.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1116.6 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.
Lutsen, MN has a population of 225, a median household income of $52,031, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lutsen averages 17.0°F in January and 72.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.9 inches with about 50.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lutsen, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55612.
The population of Lutsen, Minnesota is 225 with a median age of 58.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lutsen: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $293,800, median household income $52,031, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lutsen side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.