What are the schools like in White Bear Lake, MN?

White Bear Lake is served primarily by White Bear Lake School District. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in White Bear Lake?

The median household income in White Bear Lake, MN is $79,699 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in White Bear Lake, MN?

White Bear Lake has an average high temperature of 24.6°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.4 inches.

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

Q: Is White Bear Lake, MN affordable or expensive?

White Bear Lake's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means White Bear Lake is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $294,500 and the median rent is $1,460 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in White Bear Lake, MN?

White Bear Lake has a violent crime rate of 86.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1324.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is White Bear Lake, MN a Good Place to Live?

White Bear Lake is a small city of 24,317 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $79,699 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: White Bear Lake stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether White Bear Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All White Bear Lake 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: 104.5

White Bear Lake's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in White Bear Lake costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	White Bear Lake, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$294,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,460	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,699	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

White Bear Lake's violent crime rate is 86.6 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

86.6 /100k

Property Crime

1324.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

White Bear Lake is served primarily by White Bear Lake School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	White Bear Lake, MN	National Avg
School District	White Bear Lake School District	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

White Bear Lake sees average highs of 24.6°F in January and 82.7°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 40.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	White Bear Lake, MN
Average High — January	24.6°F
Average High — July	82.7°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	40.4"

Demographics

Metric	White Bear Lake, MN	National Avg
Population	24,317	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	21.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gem Lake, MN 1 mi Birchwood Village, MN 2 mi Mahtomedi, MN 2 mi Vadnais Heights, MN 3 mi Willernie, MN 3 mi

ZIP Codes in White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55110

White Bear Lake vs Other Cities

White Bear Lake, MN vs Gem Lake, MN White Bear Lake, MN vs Birchwood Village, MN White Bear Lake, MN vs Mahtomedi, MN White Bear Lake, MN vs Vadnais Heights, MN White Bear Lake, MN vs Willernie, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is White Bear Lake, MN affordable or expensive?

White Bear Lake's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts White Bear Lake roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $294,500 and median rent is $1,460/month.

What is the crime rate in White Bear Lake, MN?

White Bear Lake's violent crime rate is 86.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1324.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in White Bear Lake?

Public schools in White Bear Lake are operated by White Bear Lake School District. The district has 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 36.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is White Bear Lake, MN a good place to live?

White Bear Lake, MN has a population of 24,317, a median household income of $79,699, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. 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 White Bear Lake?

White Bear Lake averages 24.6°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 40.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in White Bear Lake?

White Bear Lake, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55110.

What is the population of White Bear Lake?

The population of White Bear Lake, Minnesota is 24,317 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in White Bear Lake?

Key numbers for living in White Bear Lake: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $294,500, median household income $79,699, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare White Bear Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.