Very AffordableSafer than AverageWheaton Area Public School District
20230509 - Commerical Businesses at Broadway and Front Street, Wheaton, MN · Heritage Preservation Department - MNHS / CC BY 2.020230509 - Traverse County Historical Society, exhibit displays, Wheaton, MN · Heritage Preservation Department - MNHS / CC BY 2.0
Wheaton is a small town of 1,341 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,727
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wheaton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wheaton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wheaton 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: 87.8
Wheaton's overall cost of living index is 87.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wheaton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wheaton, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$80,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$563
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,727
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Wheaton's violent crime rate is 285.7 per 100,000 residents
— 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
285.7 /100k
Property Crime
1000.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wheaton is served primarily by Wheaton Area Public School District.
Metric
Wheaton, MN
National Avg
School District
Wheaton Area Public School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wheaton sees average highs of 20.1°F in January
and 82.4°F in July,
with 25.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.9 inches of snow per year.
Wheaton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wheaton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $80,900 and median rent is $563/month.
Wheaton's violent crime rate is 285.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1000.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wheaton are operated by Wheaton Area Public School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wheaton, MN has a population of 1,341, a median household income of $49,727, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Wheaton averages 20.1°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.3 inches
with about 42.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wheaton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56296.
The population of Wheaton, Minnesota is 1,341 with a median age of 45.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wheaton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $80,900, median household income $49,727, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wheaton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
