Austin, MN vs Albert Lea, MN

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricAustin, MNAlbert Lea, MN
Population26,35818,330
Median Household Income$68,057$64,603
Median Rent$953/mo$857/mo
Median Home Value$163,900$157,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)——
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income43%45.7%
Poverty Rate12.5%12.8%
Unemployment Rate3.7%3.9% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k187122
Property Crime Rate /100k1,6751,964
Median AQI——
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs79°F80°F
Winter Lows9°F10°F
Snowfall43 in/yr40 in/yr
Avg Commute18 min17.8 min
Hospitals—1
Avg Hospital Rating—5.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.115
College Degree Rate23.6%17.4%
Foreign-Born %17.5%5.5%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+1.9%-1.5%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.