What are the schools like in Verndale, MN?

Verndale is served primarily by VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Verndale?

The median household income in Verndale, MN is $34,053 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Verndale, MN?

Verndale has an average high temperature of 17.8°F in January and 78.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Verndale, MN affordable or expensive?

Verndale's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Verndale is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $98,200 and the median rent is $663 per month.

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

Verndale has a violent crime rate of 65.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 840.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Verndale, MN a Good Place to Live?

Verndale is a small town of 480 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $34,053 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

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

All Verndale 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: 90.1

Verndale's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Verndale costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Verndale, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$98,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$663	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,053	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Verndale's violent crime rate is 65.8 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

65.8 /100k

Property Crime

840.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Verndale is served primarily by VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Verndale, MN	National Avg
School District	VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Verndale sees average highs of 17.8°F in January and 78.0°F in July, with 29.3 inches of annual precipitation and 50.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Verndale, MN
Average High — January	17.8°F
Average High — July	78.0°F
Annual Precipitation	29.3"
Annual Snowfall	50.8"

Demographics

Metric	Verndale, MN	National Avg
Population	480	—
Median Age	36.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Aldrich, MN 4 mi Hewitt, MN 6 mi Wadena, MN 6 mi Bertha, MN 9 mi Staples, MN 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Verndale

Verndale, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56481

Verndale vs Other Cities

Verndale, MN vs Aldrich, MN Verndale, MN vs Hewitt, MN Verndale, MN vs Wadena, MN Verndale, MN vs Bertha, MN Verndale, MN vs Staples, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Verndale, MN affordable or expensive?

Verndale's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Verndale roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $98,200 and median rent is $663/month.

What is the crime rate in Verndale, MN?

Verndale's violent crime rate is 65.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 840.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Verndale?

Public schools in Verndale are operated by VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Verndale, MN a good place to live?

Verndale, MN has a population of 480, a median household income of $34,053, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Verndale?

Verndale averages 17.8°F in January and 78.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.3 inches with about 50.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Verndale?

Verndale, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56481.

What is the population of Verndale?

The population of Verndale, Minnesota is 480 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Verndale?

Key numbers for living in Verndale: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $98,200, median household income $34,053, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Verndale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.