What are the schools like in Olivia, MN?

Olivia is served primarily by BIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIAN. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Olivia?

The median household income in Olivia, MN is $60,881 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Olivia, MN?

Olivia has an average high temperature of 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Olivia, MN affordable or expensive?

Olivia's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Olivia is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $155,200 and the median rent is $712 per month.

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

Olivia has a violent crime rate of 44.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 660.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Olivia, MN a Good Place to Live?

Olivia is a small town of 2,358 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $60,881 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Olivia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Olivia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Olivia 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: 92.9

Olivia's overall cost of living index is 92.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Olivia costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Olivia, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$155,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$712	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,881	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Olivia's violent crime rate is 44.1 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

44.1 /100k

Property Crime

660.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Olivia is served primarily by BIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIAN. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Olivia, MN	National Avg
School District	BIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIAN	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Olivia sees average highs of 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 27.9 inches of annual precipitation and 37.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Olivia, MN
Average High — January	21.3°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	27.9"
Annual Snowfall	37.7"

Demographics

Metric	Olivia, MN	National Avg
Population	2,358	—
Median Age	37.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	25.9%	22.2%
65 and over	22.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bird Island, MN 5 mi Danube, MN 5 mi Renville, MN 10 mi Blomkest, MN 12 mi Lake Lillian, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Olivia

Olivia, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56277

Olivia vs Other Cities

Olivia, MN vs Bird Island, MN Olivia, MN vs Danube, MN Olivia, MN vs Renville, MN Olivia, MN vs Blomkest, MN Olivia, MN vs Lake Lillian, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olivia, MN affordable or expensive?

Olivia's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Olivia roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $155,200 and median rent is $712/month.

What is the crime rate in Olivia, MN?

Olivia's violent crime rate is 44.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 660.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Olivia?

Public schools in Olivia are operated by BIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIAN. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Olivia, MN a good place to live?

Olivia, MN has a population of 2,358, a median household income of $60,881, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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 Olivia?

Olivia averages 21.3°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.9 inches with about 37.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Olivia?

Olivia, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56277.

What is the population of Olivia?

The population of Olivia, Minnesota is 2,358 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Olivia?

Key numbers for living in Olivia: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $155,200, median household income $60,881, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olivia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.