What are the schools like in Tower, MN?

Tower is served primarily by Vermilion Country School. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.2:1.

What is the median household income in Tower?

The median household income in Tower, MN is $57,813 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Tower, MN?

Tower has an average high temperature of 16.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 68.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Tower, MN affordable or expensive?

Tower's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Tower is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $126,700 and the median rent is $533 per month.

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

Tower has a violent crime rate of 188.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1946.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Tower, MN a Good Place to Live?

Tower is a small town of 410 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $57,813 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Tower stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).

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

All Tower 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: 87.0

Tower's overall cost of living index is 87.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Tower costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Tower, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$126,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$533	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,813	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Tower's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

188.9 /100k

Property Crime

1946.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Tower is served primarily by Vermilion Country School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Tower, MN	National Avg
School District	Vermilion Country School	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tower sees average highs of 16.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July, with 28.2 inches of annual precipitation and 68.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Tower, MN
Average High — January	16.8°F
Average High — July	77.1°F
Annual Precipitation	28.2"
Annual Snowfall	68.7"

Demographics

Metric	Tower, MN	National Avg
Population	410	—
Median Age	50.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	13.9%	22.2%
65 and over	28.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Soudan, MN 2 mi Hoyt Lakes, MN 19 mi Cook, MN 19 mi Biwabik, MN 19 mi Aurora, MN 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Tower

Tower, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55790

Tower vs Other Cities

Tower, MN vs Soudan, MN Tower, MN vs Hoyt Lakes, MN Tower, MN vs Cook, MN Tower, MN vs Biwabik, MN Tower, MN vs Aurora, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tower, MN affordable or expensive?

Tower's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Tower roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $126,700 and median rent is $533/month.

What is the crime rate in Tower, MN?

Tower's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1946.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Tower?

Public schools in Tower are operated by Vermilion Country School. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1. 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Tower, MN a good place to live?

Tower, MN has a population of 410, a median household income of $57,813, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. 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 Tower?

Tower averages 16.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.2 inches with about 68.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Tower?

Tower, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55790.

What is the population of Tower?

The population of Tower, Minnesota is 410 with a median age of 50.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Tower?

Key numbers for living in Tower: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $126,700, median household income $57,813, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tower side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.