Below Average CostVery SafeEDEN VALLEY-WATKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Median Income
$62,500
household / year
Median Home Value
$136,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$775
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Watkins, MN a Good Place to Live?
Watkins is a small town of 831 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $62,500
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Watkins 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 Watkins is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Watkins 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: 93.0
Watkins's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Watkins costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Watkins, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$136,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$775
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Watkins's violent crime rate is 146.4 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
146.4 /100k
Property Crime
792.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Watkins is served primarily by EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Watkins, MN
National Avg
School District
EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Watkins sees average highs of 19.8°F in January
and 79.3°F in July,
with 30.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Watkins's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Watkins roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $136,100 and median rent is $775/month.
Watkins's violent crime rate is 146.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 792.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Watkins are operated by EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 6.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Watkins, MN has a population of 831, a median household income of $62,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
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.
Watkins averages 19.8°F in January and 79.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.8 inches
with about 57.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Watkins, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55389.
The population of Watkins, Minnesota is 831 with a median age of 34.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Watkins: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $136,100, median household income $62,500, 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 Watkins side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.