What are the schools like in Motley, MN?

School district data for Motley is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Motley?

The median household income in Motley, MN is $46,563 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.

What is the weather like in Motley, MN?

Motley has an average high temperature of 17.8°F in January and 78.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Motley, MN affordable or expensive?

Motley's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Motley is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $136,300 and the median rent is $638 per month.

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

Motley has a violent crime rate of 144.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1157.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Motley, MN a Good Place to Live?

Motley is a small town of 647 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $46,563 and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Motley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Motley 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: 91.4

Motley's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Motley costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Motley, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$136,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$638	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,563	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Motley's violent crime rate is 144.7 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

144.7 /100k

Property Crime

1157.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Motley, 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	4.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Motley sees average highs of 17.8°F in January and 78.9°F in July, with 27.1 inches of annual precipitation and 48.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Motley, MN
Average High — January	17.8°F
Average High — July	78.9°F
Annual Precipitation	27.1"
Annual Snowfall	48.2"

Demographics

Metric	Motley, MN	National Avg
Population	647	—
Median Age	50.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.5%	22.2%
65 and over	31.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pillager, MN 8 mi Staples, MN 9 mi East Gull Lake, MN 14 mi Aldrich, MN 14 mi Baxter, MN 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Motley

Motley, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56466

Motley vs Other Cities

Motley, MN vs Pillager, MN Motley, MN vs Staples, MN Motley, MN vs East Gull Lake, MN Motley, MN vs Aldrich, MN Motley, MN vs Baxter, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Motley, MN affordable or expensive?

Motley's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Motley roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $136,300 and median rent is $638/month.

What is the crime rate in Motley, MN?

Motley's violent crime rate is 144.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1157.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Motley?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Motley, MN a good place to live?

Motley, MN has a population of 647, a median household income of $46,563, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. 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 Motley?

Motley averages 17.8°F in January and 78.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.1 inches with about 48.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Motley?

Motley, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56466.

What is the population of Motley?

The population of Motley, Minnesota is 647 with a median age of 50.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Motley?

Key numbers for living in Motley: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $136,300, median household income $46,563, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Motley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.