Pine River is a small town of 845 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $38,125
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pine River 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 Pine River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pine River 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: 93.2
Pine River's overall cost of living index is 93.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pine River costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pine River, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$133,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$806
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
43.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Pine River's violent crime rate is 213.9 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
213.9 /100k
Property Crime
1069.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pine River is served primarily by PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Pine River, MN
National Avg
School District
PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pine River sees average highs of 18.8°F in January
and 79.8°F in July,
with 28.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Pine River's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pine River roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $133,100 and median rent is $806/month.
Pine River's violent crime rate is 213.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1069.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pine River are operated by PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 13.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pine River, MN has a population of 845, a median household income of $38,125, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%.
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.
Pine River averages 18.8°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.8 inches
with about 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Pine River, Minnesota is 845 with a median age of 43.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pine River: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $133,100, median household income $38,125, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pine River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
