Mentor, Minnesota · Elcajonfarms (talk) / CC BY 3.0Northwest Minnesota Multi-County Housing Authority, Mentor, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Volunteer Fire Department, Mentor, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0Gas Station, Mentor, Minnesota · Myotus / CC BY 4.0
Mentor is a small town of 142 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $39,583
and a 8.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mentor stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mentor is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mentor 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: 86.2
Mentor's overall cost of living index is 86.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mentor costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mentor, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$57,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$788
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,583
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mentor's violent crime rate is 216.8 per 100,000 residents
— 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
216.8 /100k
Property Crime
666.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Mentor, 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
6.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mentor sees average highs of 15.0°F in January
and 78.9°F in July,
with 24.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 49.9 inches of snow per year.
Mentor's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mentor roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $57,800 and median rent is $788/month.
Mentor's violent crime rate is 216.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 666.4 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.
Mentor, MN has a population of 142, a median household income of $39,583, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%.
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.
Mentor averages 15.0°F in January and 78.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.3 inches
with about 49.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mentor, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56736.
The population of Mentor, Minnesota is 142 with a median age of 52.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mentor: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $57,800, median household income $39,583, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mentor side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
