What are the schools like in Plainview, MN?

Plainview is served primarily by Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Plainview?

The median household income in Plainview, MN is $63,194 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Plainview, MN?

Plainview has an average high temperature of 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Plainview, MN affordable or expensive?

Plainview's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Plainview is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $201,100 and the median rent is $742 per month.

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

Plainview has a violent crime rate of 56.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 169.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Plainview, MN a Good Place to Live?

Plainview is a small town of 3,477 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $63,194 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Plainview 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: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Plainview is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Plainview 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: 93.1

Plainview's overall cost of living index is 93.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Plainview costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Plainview, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$201,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$742	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,194	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Plainview's violent crime rate is 56.5 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

56.5 /100k

Property Crime

169.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Plainview is served primarily by Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Plainview, MN	National Avg
School District	Plainview-Elgin-Millville	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Plainview sees average highs of 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation and 48.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Plainview, MN
Average High — January	24.4°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	34.7"
Annual Snowfall	48.3"

Demographics

Metric	Plainview, MN	National Avg
Population	3,477	—
Median Age	34.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	32.9%	22.2%
65 and over	19.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Elgin, MN 5 mi Millville, MN 8 mi Elba, MN 9 mi Hammond, MN 11 mi Eyota, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Plainview

Plainview, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55964

Plainview vs Other Cities

Plainview, MN vs Elgin, MN Plainview, MN vs Millville, MN Plainview, MN vs Elba, MN Plainview, MN vs Hammond, MN Plainview, MN vs Eyota, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plainview, MN affordable or expensive?

Plainview's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Plainview roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $201,100 and median rent is $742/month.

What is the crime rate in Plainview, MN?

Plainview's violent crime rate is 56.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 169.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Plainview?

Public schools in Plainview are operated by Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Plainview, MN a good place to live?

Plainview, MN has a population of 3,477, a median household income of $63,194, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 Plainview?

Plainview averages 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches with about 48.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Plainview?

Plainview, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55964.

What is the population of Plainview?

The population of Plainview, Minnesota is 3,477 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Plainview?

Key numbers for living in Plainview: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $201,100, median household income $63,194, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Plainview side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.