What are the schools like in Willmar, MN?

Willmar is served primarily by Willmar Public School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Willmar?

The median household income in Willmar, MN is $59,132 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Willmar, MN?

Willmar has an average high temperature of 20.5°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Willmar, MN affordable or expensive?

Willmar's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Willmar is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,000 and the median rent is $791 per month.

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

Willmar has a violent crime rate of 438.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1292.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Willmar, MN a Good Place to Live?

Willmar is a small city of 21,006 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $59,132 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Willmar stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Willmar 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: 94.4

Willmar's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Willmar costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Willmar, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$791	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,132	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Willmar's violent crime rate is 438.5 per 100,000 residents — 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

438.5 /100k

Property Crime

1292.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Willmar is served primarily by Willmar Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Willmar, MN	National Avg
School District	Willmar Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Willmar sees average highs of 20.5°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 28.7 inches of annual precipitation and 46.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Willmar, MN
Average High — January	20.5°F
Average High — July	81.5°F
Annual Precipitation	28.7"
Annual Snowfall	46.1"

Demographics

Metric	Willmar, MN	National Avg
Population	21,006	—
Median Age	36.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.9%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pennock, MN 6 mi Kandiyohi, MN 6 mi Spicer, MN 10 mi Raymond, MN 11 mi Blomkest, MN 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Willmar

Willmar, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56201

Willmar vs Other Cities

Willmar, MN vs Pennock, MN Willmar, MN vs Kandiyohi, MN Willmar, MN vs Spicer, MN Willmar, MN vs Raymond, MN Willmar, MN vs Blomkest, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Willmar, MN affordable or expensive?

Willmar's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Willmar roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,000 and median rent is $791/month.

What is the crime rate in Willmar, MN?

Willmar's violent crime rate is 438.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1292.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Willmar?

Public schools in Willmar are operated by Willmar Public School District. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Willmar, MN a good place to live?

Willmar, MN has a population of 21,006, a median household income of $59,132, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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 Willmar?

Willmar averages 20.5°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.7 inches with about 46.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Willmar?

Willmar, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56201.

What is the population of Willmar?

The population of Willmar, Minnesota is 21,006 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Willmar?

Key numbers for living in Willmar: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $175,000, median household income $59,132, crime index 94 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Willmar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.