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Living in
Alexandria.
About
Life in Alexandria
This is a small Midwestern county seat where you're actually more likely to live on or near one of the surrounding lakes than within the city proper—over 14,500 people call the area home, but plenty more are scattered across the water communities that make this region special. If you're considering the move, know that you're signing up for genuine four-season living: cold, snowy winters and warm summers (sometimes hot and humid), with pleasant shoulder seasons in between. The job market is lean but stable—unemployment sits at 3.6%, and while the top employers aren't flashy, there's Alexandria Technical & Community College and steady work in local services, retail, and hospitality.
Alexandria at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
85.9%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Alexandria: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Alexandria, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (37.5%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
24.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.0%
of households
Married Couples
38.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.02
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 27% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Alexandria
In Alexandria, rent runs 27% below the MN average, and home values are 16% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,564
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $313,921 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Alexandria
Unemployment in Douglas County, which includes Alexandria, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Alexandria: Douglas County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Douglas County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Alexandria Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.5 min avg
How Alexandria residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Alexandria, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 67 mi
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 124 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 37% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Alexandria runs 37% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
206.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
631.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Alexandria Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
44.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Douglas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Douglas County, which includes Alexandria, the most common type is winter storm, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 7 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $35,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 13 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Winter Storm | None reported |
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
Douglas County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Stearns County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 43 miles from Alexandria) is typically good — 270 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
270
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Stearns County, MN (43 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 6°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Alexandria has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 6°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
52°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
54°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
22°/6°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.1"
Annual Snowfall
46.3"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
167
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
92
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°F | 2°F | 0.38" |
| Feb | 24°F | 6°F | 0.41" |
| Mar | 37°F | 19°F | 1.00" |
| Apr | 52°F | 33°F | 2.04" |
| May | 66°F | 46°F | 3.05" |
| Jun | 76°F | 56°F | 3.72" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 4.00" |
| Aug | 78°F | 59°F | 3.46" |
| Sep | 70°F | 50°F | 2.63" |
| Oct | 55°F | 37°F | 2.21" |
| Nov | 38°F | 23°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 24°F | 10°F | 0.36" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Alexandria
Alexandria has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Alomere Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Community Behavioral Health Hospital Alexandria
Psychiatric
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Alexandria
Alexandria's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Alexandria
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,533 students · in-state tuition $6,530 · 63% graduate · median earnings $53,136 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Alexandria
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Alexandria
Douglas County Library
720 Fillmore Street, Alexandria
Cities Near Alexandria
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Alexandria?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Alexandria FAQ
Is Alexandria, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Alexandria's median rent is $934/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,374/year. Median home value is $275,300.
Is Alexandria, Minnesota safe?⌄
Alexandria's violent crime rate was 206 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 632 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Alexandria, Minnesota?⌄
Douglas County, which includes Alexandria, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Alexandria, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Alexandria is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $934/month and median household income is $61,374/year. The median home value is $275,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Alexandria, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Alexandria 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