What are the schools like in Mankato, MN?

Mankato is served primarily by MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Mankato?

The median household income in Mankato, MN is $61,726 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Mankato, MN?

Mankato has an average high temperature of 23.7°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Mankato, MN affordable or expensive?

Mankato's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mankato is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $236,200 and the median rent is $1,023 per month.

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

Mankato has a violent crime rate of 255.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2609.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mankato, MN a Good Place to Live?

Mankato is a small city of 44,444 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $61,726 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Mankato stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mankato is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mankato 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: 87.6

Mankato's overall cost of living index is 87.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mankato costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Mankato, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$236,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,023	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,726	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Mankato's violent crime rate is 255.8 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

255.8 /100k

Property Crime

2609.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mankato is served primarily by MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mankato, MN	National Avg
School District	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mankato sees average highs of 23.7°F in January and 81.9°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 38.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Mankato, MN
Average High — January	23.7°F
Average High — July	81.9°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	38.7"

Demographics

Metric	Mankato, MN	National Avg
Population	44,444	—
Median Age	26.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	3.7%	6.3%
Under 18	16.9%	22.2%
65 and over	12.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Mankato, MN 3 mi Skyline, MN 4 mi Eagle Lake, MN 5 mi Madison Lake, MN 8 mi St. Clair, MN 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Mankato

Mankato, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56001

Mankato vs Other Cities

Mankato, MN vs North Mankato, MN Mankato, MN vs Skyline, MN Mankato, MN vs Eagle Lake, MN Mankato, MN vs Madison Lake, MN Mankato, MN vs St. Clair, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mankato, MN affordable or expensive?

Mankato's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mankato roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $236,200 and median rent is $1,023/month.

What is the crime rate in Mankato, MN?

Mankato's violent crime rate is 255.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2609.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mankato?

Public schools in Mankato are operated by MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 37.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mankato, MN a good place to live?

Mankato, MN has a population of 44,444, a median household income of $61,726, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 Mankato?

Mankato averages 23.7°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 38.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mankato?

Mankato, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56001.

What is the population of Mankato?

The population of Mankato, Minnesota is 44,444 with a median age of 26.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mankato?

Key numbers for living in Mankato: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $236,200, median household income $61,726, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mankato side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.