Pipestone is a small town of 4,171 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $65,144
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pipestone 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 Pipestone is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pipestone 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: 89.8
Pipestone's overall cost of living index is 89.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pipestone costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pipestone, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$101,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$627
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,144
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Pipestone's violent crime rate is 43.8 per 100,000 residents
— 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
43.8 /100k
Property Crime
219.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pipestone is served primarily by Pipestone Area School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Pipestone, MN
National Avg
School District
Pipestone Area School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pipestone sees average highs of 22.4°F in January
and 82.4°F in July,
with 28.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Pipestone's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pipestone roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $101,000 and median rent is $627/month.
Pipestone's violent crime rate is 43.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 219.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pipestone are operated by Pipestone Area School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 22.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pipestone, MN has a population of 4,171, a median household income of $65,144, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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.
Pipestone averages 22.4°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.6 inches
with about 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pipestone, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56164.
The population of Pipestone, Minnesota is 4,171 with a median age of 39.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pipestone: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $101,000, median household income $65,144, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pipestone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
