Walnut Grove is a small town of 734 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $61,354
and a 0.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Walnut Grove 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 Walnut Grove is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Walnut Grove 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: 86.7
Walnut Grove's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Walnut Grove costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Walnut Grove, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$70,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$533
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,354
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Walnut Grove's violent crime rate is 158.2 per 100,000 residents
— 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
158.2 /100k
Property Crime
679.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Walnut Grove is served primarily by WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Walnut Grove, MN
National Avg
School District
WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Walnut Grove sees average highs of 22.6°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 29.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 46.3 inches of snow per year.
Walnut Grove's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Walnut Grove roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $70,500 and median rent is $533/month.
Walnut Grove's violent crime rate is 158.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 679.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Walnut Grove are operated by WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOLS.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 12.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Walnut Grove, MN has a population of 734, a median household income of $61,354, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%.
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.
Walnut Grove averages 22.6°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.3 inches
with about 46.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Walnut Grove, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56180.
The population of Walnut Grove, Minnesota is 734 with a median age of 32.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Walnut Grove: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $70,500, median household income $61,354, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Walnut Grove side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
