50
States ranked
1,312
Cities scored
49
Data sources
11
Scoring categories
America’s Dashboard

America's Dashboard ranks and scores all 50 US states and1,312 cities using real government data. Compare economy, safety, health, education, affordability, and more — free, transparent, and updated with the latest federal statistics.

Updated as each source publishes its latest release

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Data sources

Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates·
  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
  • ALEC Rich States Poor States·
  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/States/Minnesota

2026 edition·Midwest·Pop. 5,830,405·Capital Saint Paul·32nd state, admitted 1858·Cook PVI D+5

Is Minnesota a Good Place to Live? Minnesota Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes

Minnesota ranks #12 of 50 with a composite score of 70.4 and a B+ grade, strongest in transportation (#5) and weakest in affordability (#29). The median household earns $87,117 (8% above the national median), homes typically cost $350,752 (5% below the national average), and violent crime is 224 per 100,000 (32% below the national average).

Editor's verdict
Newcomers brace for Minnesota's winter and get ambushed by the invoice instead, a top income rate of 9.85% and infant childcare at $20,592 a year. What the invoice buys is real: life expectancy of 79.3 years, #6, and Twin Cities wages that put the median household at $87,117.
Compare Minnesota with its neighbors →Best cities in Minnesota →How the score works →
Composite score
70.4B+
#12 of 50 · #5 in the Midwest
Top 10 in
Transportation #5, Health #9
Middle of the pack
Environment #12, Economy #15, Livability #17, Safety #18, Education #19, Outdoor Access #21, Growth #25, Fiscal Health #26, Affordability #29
NumbersNumbersScorecardScoresCostCostTaxesTaxesSafetySafetyJobsJobsSchools & healthSchoolsMovingMovingCitiesCitiesBest forBest forNeighborsNeighborsFAQFAQ
Top ↑

Minnesota by the numbers

Six measures every state is judged on, each with Minnesota's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.

Median household income
$87,117
#14 of 50, 1 = highest · US $80,903
Typical home value
$350,752
#26 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US $368,697
Cost of living index
98.6
#30 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US 100
Violent crime per 100K
224
#13 of 50, 1 = safest · US 328
Unemployment rate
3.9%
#23 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 3.95%
Total tax burden
9.72%
#40 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 8.74%

Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.

→Read the Minnesota overview

Minnesota scores above the national average in 10 of 11 categories and ranks #5 of 12 states in the Midwest, behind 4 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is violent crime rate (224, 32% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is total tax burden (9.72%, 1.0 points above the national average). With 2 top-10 finishes and no bottom-10 category, its weaknesses are relative, not absolute.

What stands out
  • Infant childcare costs $20,592 a year, #41 of 50, which is why a family of four at $75,000 is left with a $24,536 shortfall here.
  • Households leaving report $89,425 in income against $70,476 for arrivals; the Florida-bound group earns the most of anyone in either direction.
  • The Twin Cities run light rail and frequent buses, so 1.8% of commuters use transit, among the highest shares between Chicago and Seattle.

Where does Minnesota rank in each category?

All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Minnesota is top 10 in 2 and bottom 10 in 0.

CategoryScoreRankGradeWeightUS avgThe numbers behind it
Economy53.1#15 of 50B+15%47.1Its unemployment rate is 3.9% and median household income is $87,117.
Safety77.1#18 of 50B+12%68.9The FBI estimates 223.5 violent crimes and 1,411.5 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Health74.5#9 of 50A12%54.4Life expectancy is 79.3 years, 32.3% of adults have obesity, and 5.1% of residents are uninsured.
Education64.7#19 of 50B12%57.5Eighth graders average 282 in NAEP math and 260 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 83.6%.
Affordability63.1#29 of 50C+10%65.2Typical home value $350,752 (4.0x median income); cost of living index 98.6 (100 = US); center-based infant care $20,592 a year.
Fiscal Health59.2#26 of 50B8%58.1It carries $3,460 of debt per resident, has 79% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating.
Growth40.7#25 of 50B7%38.8Population grew 0.57% last year; Census net domestic migration is +1.4 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series).
Transportation59.6#5 of 50A+7%49.8The average commute is 22.7 minutes, 1.8% of workers use public transit, and 14.7% work from home.
Livability36.5#17 of 50B+7%34.3It has 1.521 restaurants and 0.044 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.158 bars and 0.166 social associations per 1,000.
Outdoor Access30.7#21 of 50B6%29.410.9% of its land is public, with 3.8 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents.
Environment51.0#12 of 50B+4%42.5Its median air quality index is 36, 36% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 26.7.

Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.

Category shape

Minnesota's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Minnesota bulges toward transportation and dips at affordability.

How expensive is Minnesota?

Minnesota's cost of living index is 98.6 against a national baseline of 100, 1% below the national average and #30 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $350,752 (5% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $98,911, $11,794 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, St. Cloud is cheapest (index 87.6) and St. Louis Park priciest (104.8).

Housing market snapshot · August

Cool market
Typical home value
$350,752
+2.5% in 1 yr · +14.1% in 5 yr · national $369K
Mortgage payment
$1,805/mo
P&I, 20% down, current rates
Income needed
$99K
median earns $87K (+14%)
Rent, Minneapolis
$1,719/mo
renting cheaper by $282 vs. a $2,001 metro payment
Price cuts · days
27% · 44
national 26% · 53 days

Ranked #25 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #23 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $11,794 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.

Full Minnesota housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →

What a household keeps at $75,000

HouseholdMinnesotaMedian stateRank
Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare−$24,536−$11,758#37 of 50
Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare+$30,192+$31,418#29 of 50
Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax+$34,998+$35,970#27 of 50

Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.

Electricity price
15.82¢/kWh
#29 of 50 · US 17.84¢/kWh
Natural gas price
$10.98/Mcf
#10 of 50 · US $15.83/Mcf
Gasoline price
$3.15/gal
#20 of 50 · US $3.32/gal
Price level for goods
100.5
#41 of 50 · US 100
Center-based infant care, per year
$20,592
#41 of 50 · US $15,633
Editor's note

Minnesota is a middle-cost state with a high-cost family bill. The index sits at 98.6, 1% below the national average, an average that fits a single professional in Bloomington, not a family in Edina. A typical home runs $350,752, far less in St Cloud than the western suburbs. Childcare breaks budgets: $20,592 a year for an infant, 32% above the national average, and the western suburbs charge more. Duluth and St Cloud are cheapest. A single adult at $75,000 ends the year at a $30,192 surplus; a family of four at a $24,536 shortfall, #37 of 50.

  • Run your own budget for Minnesota →
  • Minnesota housing market →
  • Housing rankings →

What are taxes like in Minnesota?

Minnesota's tax mix is high income tax, with property and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 9.72% of income, 1.0 points above the national average (#40 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 1.05% of home value (#31), and combined sales tax averages 8.14% (#36).

Total tax burden
9.72%
#40 of 50 · US 8.74%
Top income tax rate
9.85%
#45 of 50 · US avg 5.46%
Effective property tax
1.05%
#31 of 50 · US 1.02%
Combined sales tax
8.14%
#36 of 50 · US 6.66%

Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.

Can the state pay its bills?

Credit rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's
Rainy-day fund
8.1%
of spending · #37 of 50
Pensions funded
79%
of obligations · #18 of 50
Debt per resident
$3,460
state debt · #34 of 50

Fiscal health scores 59.2 out of 100, #26 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.

Editor's note

Minnesota taxes income hard and everything else normally. The top rate of 9.85% is among the highest in the country, and unlike most neighbors the state taxes Social Security above an income threshold. A retiree on a modest fixed income is largely spared; one with a pension and a portfolio is not. A high earner pays full freight and gets functioning services in return. A homeowner does about average, with property tax at 1.05%. Clothing and groceries are exempt from the 8.14% sales tax.

  • Fiscal health rankings →
  • Best states for retirees →

Is Minnesota safe?

Minnesota reports 224 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 32% below the national average and #13 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,412 per 100,000, 8% below the national average (#22 of 50). The safety score is 77.1 out of 100, #18 of 50; among tracked cities, Edina has the lowest violent crime rate.

Minnesota vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents

Violent crime#13 of 50
MN
224
US
328
Property crime#22 of 50
MN
1,412
US
1,535

FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.

Safest tracked cities in Minnesota

CityPopulationViolent / 100KProperty / 100K
Edina53,262521,365
Eden Prairie63,051541,066
Plymouth79,22065856
Blaine72,488651,122
Woodbury78,305751,152

Lowest violent crime among the 20 Minnesota cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.

Editor's note

Violent crime statewide is 224 per hundred thousand, 32% below the national average, while property crime sits at the national figure. Minneapolis and St Paul carry most of the violent total, surrounded by suburbs like Edina and Edina with the lowest tracked rates. Property crime is metro-wide: car theft and break-ins spread across the suburbs in a way assault does not. Outstate, Duluth and St Cloud run higher than their size suggests.

  • Safety rankings →
  • Best states for families →

What is the job market like in Minnesota?

Minnesota's unemployment rate is 3.9%, 0.1 points below the national average and #23 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $87,117, 8% above the national median. Real GDP grew +2.2% in the latest year (#19 of 50) and GDP per capita is $71,279, 11% above the national average. The population is growing 0.57% a year, 0.1 points above the national average. The economy score is 53.1 out of 100, #15 of 50.

Median household income
$87,117
#14 of 50 · US $80,903
Unemployment rate
3.9%
#23 of 50 · US 3.95%
GDP per capita
$71,279
#13 of 50 · US $64,333
Real GDP growth
+2.2%
#19 of 50 · US +1.91%
Population growth
+0.57%
#21 of 50 · US +0.51%

Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.

Highest-paying tracked occupations in Minnesota, adjusted for cost of living

OccupationCost-adjustedMedian wageMetro
Family Medicine Physicians$247,865$242,908Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Lawyers$153,543$150,472Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Software Developers$147,131$144,188Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Computer Systems Analysts$117,497$115,147Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
General & Operations Managers$112,218$109,974Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.

Editor's note

Minnesota has more big corporate headquarters per resident than almost any state: Target, Best Buy, General Mills and UnitedHealth in the Twin Cities, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and an unrivaled medical device cluster. That is why the median household earns $87,117, 8% above the national median, at a cost index near the national average. family medicine physicians earn $242,908 in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, the best-paid tracked work. Outstate is different: taconite on the Iron Range, sugar beets in the Red River Valley, turkeys and hogs, wages swinging with commodities.

  • Economy rankings →
  • Wages by occupation and metro →

How are Minnesota's schools and healthcare?

Minnesota's education score is 64.7 out of 100, #19 of 50. Eighth graders average 282 in NAEP math (#3 of 50) and 260 in reading (#14 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 83.6%, 2.0 points below the national average (#35 of 50).

Education score
64.7
#19 of 50 · US 57.5
Graduation rate
83.6%
#35 of 50 · US 85.6%
NAEP math, grade 8
282
#3 of 50 · US 273 · grade 4: 241
NAEP reading, grade 8
260
#14 of 50 · US 257 · grade 4: 214

Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate

CityGrad rateStudents / teacherPer pupil
Eden Prairie94.3%14.7$15,360
Minnetonka94.2%15.8$15,389
Edina93%16.1$14,827

NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.

Editor's note

Minnesota ranks #19 of 50 for education, lifted by eighth-grade math of 282, #3, but graduates only 83.6%, 2.0 points below the national average. Suburban districts like Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Edina finish nearly everyone; Minneapolis, St Paul and St Cloud finish fewer, and the racial gap is among the widest anywhere. Open enrollment and the first charter school law make choice real. The district is the unit, priced into the house.

  • Education rankings →

Minnesota is #9 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 79.3 years, 2.4 years above the national average. 32.3% of adults have obesity (#15 of 50) and 5.1% of residents have no health insurance (#7 of 50). The health score is 74.5 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.

Health score
74.5
#9 of 50 · US 54.4
Life expectancy
79.3 years
#6 of 50 · US 76.9 years
Adults with obesity
32.3%
#15 of 50 · US 34%
Uninsured
5.1%
#7 of 50 · US 7.6%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.

Editor's note

Minnesota ranks #9 of 50 for health and life expectancy is 79.3 years, #6, owing more to coverage and habits than to Mayo. The uninsured rate is among the lowest anywhere; the Twin Cities and Rochester are dense with hospitals. Outstate is the weakness: the northwest and the Iron Range are hours from a specialist, and rural hospitals have been closing birth units.

  • Health rankings →

Who is moving to Minnesota, and who is leaving?

Minnesota lost a net 5,106 households to other states in the latest IRS release: 53,331 moved in and 58,437 moved out, -0.9 per 1,000 residents (#36 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $70,476 against $89,425 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net -7.2K people (104.3K in, 111.6K out, ±11.1K), consistent with the IRS direction.

Households moving in
53,331
top origin Wisconsin
Households moving out
58,437
top destination Wisconsin
Net per 1,000 residents
-0.9
#36 of 50 · -5,106 households
Avg income, arrivals
$70,476
leavers $89,425 · leavers earn more

Where they come from

  1. 1Wisconsin8,321 · $60,446
  2. 2North Dakota4,007 · $60,268
  3. 3California3,396 · $87,551
  4. 4Texas3,208 · $70,169
  5. 5Florida3,054 · $87,141

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.

Where they go

  1. 1Wisconsin8,003 · $78,834
  2. 2Florida4,951 · $173,518
  3. 3Texas4,294 · $95,391
  4. 4North Dakota4,094 · $54,460
  5. 5California3,299 · $99,067

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.

Editor's note

Minnesota's net loss of -5,106 households is small and lopsided by income. 53,331 arrive averaging $70,476; 58,437 leave averaging $89,425. Origin and destination are both led by Wisconsin, the metro spilling into Hudson. Those leaving for Florida and Texas earn the most, consistent with retirees and executives leaving a high-tax state. North Dakota arrivals are young and modest, consistent with the Twin Cities as the regional hub.

  • All Minnesota migration flows →
  • State-by-state migration →

Where should you live in Minnesota?

By composite score, the best of the 20 Minnesota cities we track are Edina (72.2), Minnetonka (71.8), and Eden Prairie (71.7). St. Cloud is the cheapest (cost index 87.6), Lakeville the richest ($139,041), and Minnetonka the fastest growing (+2.2% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Minnesota cities we cover, not every city in the state.

Standout cities in Minnesota

Best forCityMeasure
SafestEdina52 violent crimes per 100K
CheapestSt. Cloudcost of living index 87.6
Most walkableMinneapoliswalkability 14.9 of 20
Cleanest airSt. Paulmedian AQI 34 (county)
Best schoolsEden Prairie94.3% graduation rate
RichestLakeville$139,041

Among the 20 Minnesota cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.

Editor's note

Regions of Minnesota

Minneapolis, St Paul and the inner ring

The two cities plus St Louis Park and Bloomington: light rail, the highest crime, the strongest job market in the Upper Midwest, and prices at the state average.

MinneapolisSt. PaulSt. Louis ParkBloomington
The western and southern suburbs

Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, Lakeville, Woodbury: corporate campuses, top-tier districts, the highest incomes in the state and childcare bills to match.

Eden PrairieMinnetonkaEdinaPlymouthMaple GroveLakevilleApple ValleyEaganBurnsvilleWoodbury
The north metro

Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids: the metro's affordable side, more starter homes, more diversity, and a longer drive down the interstate at rush hour.

BlaineBrooklyn ParkCoon Rapids
Rochester and the southeast

Mayo Clinic's company town plus bluff country along the Mississippi; strong wages, a cost index well under the metro, and a hospital at the center of everything.

Rochester
Outstate: Duluth, St Cloud and the farm counties

Lake Superior and the Iron Range in the north, St Cloud to the west; the cheapest housing, thinner hospitals, and an economy tied to ore and crops.

DuluthSt. Cloud

All 20 tracked cities, best to worst

#CityGradeScorePopulationIncomeViolent / 100KCost index
1Edina
A+
72.253,262$128,76752104.8
2Minnetonka
A+
71.853,064$119,517101104.8
3Eden Prairie
A+
71.763,051$130,48954104.8
4Plymouth
A+
71.579,220$136,53465104.8
5Lakeville
A+
70.974,354$139,04192104.8
6Maple Grove
A+
69.271,173$132,731112104.8
7Woodbury
A+
68.478,305$125,31075104.8
8St. Louis Park
A+
68.049,594$101,648122104.8
9Eagan
A
65.768,000$108,690130104.8
10Apple Valley
A
64.055,679$97,673204104.8
11Blaine
A
63.872,488$106,80165104.8
12Bloomington
B+
62.888,665$93,211283104.8
13Rochester
B+
62.4122,330$89,38918690.8
14Burnsville
B+
61.764,463$87,024163104.8
15Brooklyn Park
B+
61.683,876$89,891348104.8
16Coon Rapids
B+
59.763,468$88,251146104.8
17Duluth
B
58.687,093$68,80723188.8
18St. Paul
B
57.9307,284$73,394491104.8
19Minneapolis
C+
54.0427,246$80,8461,004104.8
20St. Cloud
C
51.370,629$61,37436187.6

Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Minnesota cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.

Best cities in Minnesota for…

#CityScoreEducationSafetyAffordability
1Eden Prairie71.868.895.652.7
2Plymouth70.854.496.452.8
3Lakeville70.860.697.154.0
4Minnetonka70.466.590.953.3
5Edina70.363.793.645.2
All Minnesota cities for families →Best states for families →
  • All 1,312 cities →

Who is Minnesota best for?

The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Minnesota cities for each.

Families
#15of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Retirees
#11of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Remote Workers
#13of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Young Professionals
#11of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Small Business
#17of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#12of 50
Best Minnesota cities →
Minnesota fits
  • Families who can afford the suburbs: the state ranks #15 for families, and Eden Prairie graduates nearly everyone it enrolls.
  • Professionals in medicine, medical devices or corporate work: the median household earns $87,117, and family medicine physicians clear $242,908 in the metro.
  • People who want big-city life without coastal prices: transit carries 1.8% of commuters, and the light rail actually goes places.
Minnesota does not fit
  • Retirees with a large taxable income: Social Security is taxed above a threshold, and the top rate is 9.85%.
  • Families at $75,000 with a child in daycare: a family of four is left with a $24,536 shortfall after costs in the typical metro, #37 of 50.
  • Anyone who hates the dark more than the cold: December daylight ends in mid-afternoon, and population growth of +0.57% says plenty of people have noticed.

Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →

How does Minnesota compare with its neighbors?

Minnesota ranks #12. Among its bordering states, South Dakota ranks highest (#3) and Iowa lowest (#14). Wisconsin is the most similar on the composite score and South Dakota the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.

StateOverallScoreMedian incomeTypical homeCost indexViolent crimeTax burdenCompare
Minnesota#1270.4$87,117$350,75298.62249.72%
South Dakota#379.3$76,881$321,57488.63086.46%Compare →
North Dakota#575.5$77,871$292,293892576.61%Compare →
Wisconsin#1170.6$77,488$339,69994.12408.31%Compare →
Iowa#1469.2$75,501$239,54787.82349.23%Compare →
United States—57.9$80,903$368,6971003288.74%

Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.

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Minnesota vs. California →Minnesota vs. Texas →
Other Midwest states
  • Nebraska#10
  • Indiana#22
  • Kansas#27
  • Ohio#33
  • Missouri#34
  • Illinois#39
  • Michigan#45
Editor's note

Minnesota vs Wisconsin is settled by commute: Hudson and River Falls are Twin Cities suburbs on the Wisconsin side with a cheaper house, a higher property tax and no reciprocity, so commuters file in both states. North Dakota sells a lower tax burden and oil-patch wages, and its young people move to Minneapolis anyway.

  • Compare Minnesota with any state →

How the score works

Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.

The weights

Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.

From raw numbers to scores

Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.

Cities, budgets and neighbors

The 20 Minnesota city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.

Editor's notes

Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.

Always the latest release

Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.

What the score cannot tell you

Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.

Category briefs

Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →

Key takeaways

What the Minnesota numbers say when read together.

  1. 01

    Transportation is Minnesota's strongest suit

    Minnesota is a #12 state overall but #5 of 50 for transportation, 7 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 59.6 against a national average of 49.8. Health (#9) is next. Transportation carries 7% of the composite.

  2. 02

    Affordability is where Minnesota falls furthest behind

    Minnesota ranks #29 of 50 for affordability, 17 places below its overall #12, with a score of 63.1 against a national average of 65.2. At 10% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.

  3. 03

    Violent crime rate is 32% below the national average

    Minnesota's violent crime rate is 224, 32% below the national average of 328, #13 of 50 (1 = safest). The largest gap in the other direction is total tax burden: 9.72%, 1.0 points above the national average. Source: FBI estimates, latest release.

  4. 04

    More households leave than arrive

    Minnesota ranks #36 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (-0.9). The households arriving report $18,949 less in average income than those leaving ($70,476 against $89,425), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount shrinks. Wisconsin is both the largest source and the largest destination.

  5. 05

    A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states

    A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $24,536 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#37 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $30,192 surplus; a retiree couple at a $34,998 surplus. Infant childcare runs $20,592 a year, 32% above the national average.

  6. 06

    Minnesota sits 4th among its 5-state neighborhood

    3 of Minnesota's 4 bordering states rank above its #12; the closest match on the composite is Wisconsin. Median income among them runs from $75,501 in Iowa to $77,871 in North Dakota; Minnesota is at $87,117.

Editor's note

The tradeoff

+Median income of $87,117 and a price-to-income ratio of 4x, #19 most affordable.

−The top income rate of 9.85% and childcare at $20,592 eat the difference for a family.

+Transit at 1.8% of commuters and work from home at 14.7% mean a metro life without two cars.

−Winter lasts five months, and the average commute of 22.7 minutes doubles in a snowstorm.

+Health ranks #9 and schools #19, the services the tax bill actually buys.

−Households leaving earn $89,425 on average, so the people paying the bill are the ones leaving.

Frequently asked questions about living in Minnesota

Is Minnesota a good place to live?

Minnesota ranks #12 of 50 with a B+ grade, #5 of 12 in the Midwest. It is top 10 in transportation and health. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 5 of 6 (income, home prices, cost of living, violent crime, and unemployment) and trails on tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.

Where does Minnesota rank among US states?

Minnesota ranks #12 of 50 overall with a composite score of 70.4 (grade B+), and #5 of 12 states in the Midwest. Its best category rank is #5 (transportation) and its worst #29 (affordability). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so B+ means rank 11–18.

Is it expensive to live in Minnesota?

At #30 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Minnesota is 1% below the national average: its index is 98.6 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $350,752 (5% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $98,911 against a median household income of $87,117. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $24,536 shortfall after all costs, #37 of 50 (1 = most left over).

Does Minnesota have a state income tax?

Yes. Minnesota's top state income tax rate is 9.85% (#45 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 9.72% of income, 1.0 points above the national average. Property tax is 1.05% of home value and combined sales tax 8.14%.

What is the crime rate in Minnesota?

Minnesota reports 224 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 32% below the national average and #13 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,412 property crimes per 100,000, 8% below the national average (#22). Its safety score is 77.1 out of 100, #18 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.

Does Minnesota have good schools?

Minnesota is #19 of 50 for education (score 64.7 out of 100). Its public school students average 282 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#3) and 260 in eighth-grade reading (#14), and the high school graduation rate is 83.6%, 2.0 points below the national average (#35). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Eden Prairie has the highest graduation rate at 94.3%.

Why are people leaving Minnesota?

Minnesota lost a net 5,106 households in the latest IRS release: 53,331 moved in and 58,437 moved out, -0.9 per 1,000 residents (#36 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Wisconsin (8,321 households) and the most common destination is Wisconsin (8,003). Arriving households report an average income of $70,476 against $89,425 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.

Is Minnesota a red or blue state?

Minnesota leans blue: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+5, meaning it votes about 5 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.

What are the downsides of living in Minnesota?

The cost of a family, not the cost of a house. Childcare at $20,592 and a top income rate of 9.85% are the two numbers that surprise arrivals, and affordability ranks #29. Winter is long and dark rather than merely cold. Property crime in the metro runs at the national rate. And the state is slowly losing its highest earners to Florida and Texas.

Is Minnesota tax-friendly for retirees?

Not by the usual definition; it depends on the income. Minnesota taxes Social Security above an income threshold, taxes pensions and withdrawals as ordinary income, and has a top rate of 9.85%. Below the threshold, a couple on Social Security and a small pension pays little. Property tax is average. The state ranks #11 for retirees on health and safety, not taxes.

Where in Minnesota should I live?

For most movers the answer is a suburb, chosen by commute. Families with a budget go west and south: Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Lakeville, Woodbury. Families without one go north to Blaine or Coon Rapids. Young professionals rent in Minneapolis or St Louis Park by the light rail. Doctors go to Rochester. Remote workers wanting Lake Superior pick Duluth, among the cheapest tracked cities.

How is healthcare in Minnesota?

Excellent in the Twin Cities and Rochester, thin in the north and west. The state ranks #9 of 50 for health, with 5.1% uninsured, life expectancy of 79.3 years is #6, and Mayo Clinic is ninety minutes from Minneapolis. Rural hospitals have cut services, so anyone with a chronic condition should settle within an hour of Rochester, the metro or Duluth.

Do I need a car in Minnesota?

In the Twin Cities, not necessarily; everywhere else, yes. Light rail links downtown Minneapolis, the airport, the Mall of America and St Paul, and 1.8% of commuters statewide use transit. A car-free life works in Minneapolis, St Paul and the light-rail suburbs. Beyond the beltway the average commute of 22.7 minutes is by car, and in January that car needs to start at twenty below.

All the numbers

Every metric behind Minnesota's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.

Median Household Income
$87,117
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: $80,903
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
BLS LAUS · Nat'l avg: 3.9%
Population Growth
+0.57%
Census, year over year · Nat'l avg: +0.5%
53.1Economy Score · National avg: 47.1
Violent Crime Rate
223.5
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 313
Property Crime Rate
1,411.5
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 1,475
77.1Safety Score · National avg: 68.9
Life Expectancy
79.3 yr
CDC NCHS · Nat'l avg: 76.9 yr
Adults With Obesity
32.3%
CDC BRFSS · Nat'l avg: 34%
Uninsured
5.1%
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 7.6%
74.5Health Score · National avg: 54.4
HS Graduation Rate
83.6%
EDFacts · Nat'l avg: 85.6%
NAEP Math, 8th Grade
282
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 273
NAEP Reading, 8th Grade
260
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 257
64.7Education Score · National avg: 57.5
GDP Per Capita
$71,279
BEA · Nat'l avg: $64,333
GDP Growth Rate
+2.2%
Real, year over year · Nat'l avg: +1.9%
Credit Rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's, latest
Fiscal Score
59.2
of 100 · Nat'l avg: 58.1
Budget Balance
+2.5%
Surplus · % of revenue · NASBO
State Debt Per Capita
$3,460
Census state finances · Nat'l avg: $3,506
Rainy Day Fund
8.1%
of expenditures · Pew Fiscal 50
Pension Funded Ratio
79%
Pew · Nat'l avg: 74.3%
Tax Burden
9.72%
of income · Nat'l avg: 8.74%
Income Tax Rate
9.85%
Top rate, state + local
Property Tax Rate
1.05%
Effective rate · Nat'l avg: 1.02%
Sales Tax Rate
8.14%
State + local avg · Nat'l avg: 6.66%
59.2Fiscal Health Score · National avg: 58.1
Typical Home Value
$350,752
Latest month · Nat'l avg: $383,360
Cost of Living Index
98.6
BEA Regional Price Parity · National = 100
Price-to-Income Ratio
4.0x
Home value ÷ median income · Nat'l avg: 4.6x
Electricity
15.82¢/kWh
EIA
Natural Gas
$10.98/Mcf
EIA
Gasoline
$3.15/gal
EIA
Infant Care (Center)
$20,592/yr
Child Care Aware of America
Goods Prices
100.5
BEA price level for goods · US = 100
63.1Affordability Score · National avg: 65.2
Air Quality Index
36
EPA annual median · Nat'l avg: 38.8
Renewable Energy
36%
EIA, % of electricity · Nat'l avg: 29%
Natural Disaster Risk
26.7
FEMA NRI per capita · Nat'l avg: 30
51.0Environment Score · National avg: 42.5
Public Land
10.9%
of state area · USGS PAD-US
Recreation Facilities
3.8
per 10K residents · Census CBP
Park Acreage per Capita
0.05
NPS acres per resident
30.7Outdoor Access Score · National avg: 29.4
Mean Commute Time
22.7 min
Mean travel time to work · Census ACS
60+ Min Commute
4.9%
of workers · Census ACS
Drive Alone
70.7%
of commuters · Census ACS
Public Transit Use
1.8%
of commuters · Census ACS
Walk / Bicycle
3.2%
active commuters · Census ACS
Work From Home
14.7%
of workers · Census ACS
Vehicle Miles Traveled
10,208
per capita · FHWA
Carpool Rate
8.2%
of commuters · Census ACS
59.6Transportation Score · National avg: 49.8
Restaurants per 1K
1.521
Census County Business Patterns
Arts & Entertainment
0.044
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Social Associations
0.166
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Bars & Breweries
0.158
per 1K residents · Census CBP
36.5Livability Score · National avg: 34.3
Net Domestic Migration
+1.4
per 1,000 residents · Nat'l avg: +1.1
Migration Trend
Gaining
More people moving in than out
Broadband Subscription
92.9%
Households, any type · Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 92.7%
Households Moving In
53.3K
Top origin: Wisconsin
Households Moving Out
58.4K
Top destination: Wisconsin
40.7Growth Score · National avg: 38.8

Also consulted for the Minnesota editor's notes

  • Minnesota Department of Revenue, Social Security Benefit Subtraction ↗