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Living in
Albert Lea.
About
Life in Albert Lea
This southern Minnesota city of about 18,500 people sits at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 90, roughly 90 miles south of the Twin Cities, and it's a place where you'll find genuinely affordable housing and a reasonable cost of living without sacrificing community character. The median home value hovers around $157,500 with median rent at $857 a month, which means your paycheck stretches further here than in most Midwest metros—especially important given the median household income sits at $64,603 and unemployment runs just 3.9%, suggesting a stable if modest job market rooted in healthcare, education, and service sectors rather than the manufacturing base that once anchored the local economy. The climate here runs hot-summer continental, so expect real winters and genuinely warm summers with good seasonal contrast—it's warmer than northern Minnesota locations like Duluth but still solidly Midwest, so you're trading some cold snap days for the kind of weather that makes outdoor seasons feel distinct and earned.
Albert Lea at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Foreign-Born
5.5%
Broadband Internet
85.1%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Albert Lea: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Albert Lea, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.1%), and 7.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
25.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.5%
of households
Married Couples
39.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Albert Lea
In Albert Lea, rent runs 33% below the MN average, and home values are 52% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,803
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $180,520 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Albert Lea
Unemployment in Freeborn County, which includes Albert Lea, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Albert Lea: Freeborn County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Freeborn County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Albert Lea Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.8 min avg
How Albert Lea residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Albert Lea, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)
Regional airport · few flights8,747 passengers boarded in 2025
- 85 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Albert Lea runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
121.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,964.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Albert Lea Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
51.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Freeborn County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Freeborn County, which includes Albert Lea, the most common type is winter storm, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Blizzard | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 6 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $300,500 |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Winter Storm | $310,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Storm | $50,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Freeborn County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Blue Earth County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 44 miles from Albert Lea) is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
110
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Blue Earth County, MN (44 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Albert Lea has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.8"
Annual Snowfall
39.5"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
159
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 6°F | 0.89" |
| Feb | 27°F | 10°F | 0.87" |
| Mar | 40°F | 23°F | 1.94" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 3.74" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.85" |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 5.44" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 4.81" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 4.27" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.71" |
| Oct | 59°F | 38°F | 2.58" |
| Nov | 42°F | 25°F | 1.54" |
| Dec | 28°F | 13°F | 1.13" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Albert Lea
Albert Lea has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Albert Lea
Albert Lea's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 90 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Albert Lea
Albert Lea has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (90 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Albert Lea
Albert Lea Public Library
211 E Clark St, Albert Lea
Cities Near Albert Lea
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Albert Lea?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Albert Lea FAQ
Is Albert Lea, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Albert Lea's median rent is $857/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,603/year. Median home value is $157,500.
Is Albert Lea, Minnesota safe?⌄
Albert Lea's violent crime rate was 122 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1964 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Albert Lea, Minnesota?⌄
Freeborn County, which includes Albert Lea, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Albert Lea, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Albert Lea is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $857/month and median household income is $64,603/year. The median home value is $157,500. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Albert Lea, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Albert Lea is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from