Mountain Iron is a small town of 2,862 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $67,429
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mountain Iron stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mountain Iron is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mountain Iron 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: 87.0
Mountain Iron's overall cost of living index is 87.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mountain Iron costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mountain Iron, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$166,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$813
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,429
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mountain Iron's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
188.9 /100k
Property Crime
1946.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mountain Iron is served primarily by MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mountain Iron, MN
National Avg
School District
MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mountain Iron sees average highs of 16.5°F in January
and 77.2°F in July,
with 29.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 68.7 inches of snow per year.
Mountain Iron's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mountain Iron roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $166,900 and median rent is $813/month.
Mountain Iron's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1946.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mountain Iron are operated by MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mountain Iron, MN has a population of 2,862, a median household income of $67,429, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Mountain Iron averages 16.5°F in January and 77.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.7 inches
with about 68.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mountain Iron, MN is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 55768, 55710, 55751.
The population of Mountain Iron, Minnesota is 2,862 with a median age of 49.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mountain Iron: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $166,900, median household income $67,429, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mountain Iron side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
