Sandstone is a small town of 2,566 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $39,602
and a 5.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sandstone stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sandstone is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sandstone 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: 94.4
Sandstone's overall cost of living index is 94.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sandstone costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sandstone, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,011
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,602
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sandstone's violent crime rate is 263.7 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
263.7 /100k
Property Crime
1190.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Sandstone, MN
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sandstone sees average highs of 20.1°F in January
and 78.8°F in July,
with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Sandstone's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sandstone roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,100 and median rent is $1,011/month.
Sandstone's violent crime rate is 263.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1190.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Sandstone, MN has a population of 2,566, a median household income of $39,602, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
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.
Sandstone averages 20.1°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches
with about 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sandstone, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55072.
The population of Sandstone, Minnesota is 2,566 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sandstone: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $119,100, median household income $39,602, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sandstone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
