Median Income
$74,602
household / year
Median Home Value
$235,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$886
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100

Is North Mankato, MN a Good Place to Live?

North Mankato is a small city of 14,238 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $74,602 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: North Mankato stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All North 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

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

Metric North Mankato, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $235,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $886 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 74.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $74,602 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

North Mankato's violent crime rate is 149.8 per 100,000 residents — 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
149.8 /100k
Property Crime
848.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

North Mankato is served primarily by Socrates.

Metric North Mankato, MN National Avg
School District Socrates
Elementary Schools N/A
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools N/A
Student/Teacher Ratio N/A 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 43.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

North Mankato sees average highs of 23.7°F in January and 81.9°F in July, with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation and 38.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricNorth Mankato, MN
Average High — January23.7°F
Average High — July81.9°F
Annual Precipitation33.9"
Annual Snowfall38.7"

Demographics

MetricNorth Mankato, MNNational Avg
Population14,238
Median Age37.438.9
Unemployment Rate2.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time16.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)88.7%59.3%
Black or African American1.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.7%18.9%
Asian1.7%6.3%
Under 1825.4%22.2%
65 and over16.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in North Mankato

North Mankato, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

North Mankato vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

North Mankato's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes North Mankato roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $235,500 and median rent is $886/month.
North Mankato's violent crime rate is 149.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 848.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North Mankato are operated by Socrates. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. 43.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North Mankato, MN has a population of 14,238, a median household income of $74,602, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. 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.
North Mankato averages 23.7°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches with about 38.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North Mankato, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56003.
The population of North Mankato, Minnesota is 14,238 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North Mankato: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $235,500, median household income $74,602, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Mankato side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.