Median Income
$94,650
household / year
Median Home Value
$411,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,589
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

Is Nisswa, MN a Good Place to Live?

Nisswa is a small town of 1,733 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $94,650 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Nisswa stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Nisswa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Nisswa 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: 104.2

Nisswa's overall cost of living index is 104.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Nisswa costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric Nisswa, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $411,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,589 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 94.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $94,650 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Nisswa's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
166.0 /100k
Property Crime
1128.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Nisswa is served primarily by BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Nisswa, MN National Avg
School District BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 6 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 3 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 54.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 96.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Nisswa 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.

MetricNisswa, MN
Average High — January17.8°F
Average High — July78.9°F
Annual Precipitation27.1"
Annual Snowfall48.2"

Demographics

MetricNisswa, MNNational Avg
Population1,733—
Median Age52.338.9
Unemployment Rate1.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.4%59.3%
Black or African American1.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.7%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1815.9%22.2%
65 and over24.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake Shore, MN 3 mi Pequot Lakes, MN 6 mi Merrifield, MN 6 mi East Gull Lake, MN 8 mi Breezy Point, MN 9 mi

Nisswa vs Other Cities

Nisswa, MN vs Lake Shore, MN Nisswa, MN vs Pequot Lakes, MN Nisswa, MN vs Merrifield, MN Nisswa, MN vs East Gull Lake, MN Nisswa, MN vs Breezy Point, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Nisswa's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Nisswa roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $411,800 and median rent is $1,589/month.
Nisswa's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1128.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Nisswa are operated by BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 54.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Nisswa, MN has a population of 1,733, a median household income of $94,650, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Nisswa 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).
The population of Nisswa, Minnesota is 1,733 with a median age of 52.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Nisswa: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $411,800, median household income $94,650, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Nisswa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.