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Living in
Mankato.
About
Life in Mankato
If you're considering a move to a mid-sized Minnesota city, Mankato offers genuine affordability and stability without feeling cramped. Minnesota State University is the economic engine here, and while that brings college-town energy—especially around campus—most of the city functions as a regular residential and employment hub. A median home price around $260,000 and median rent near $1,100 are genuinely accessible, and the job market is solid with a 3.2% unemployment rate and diverse employers beyond the university.
Mankato at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.6%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
+4.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Somalia
Who lives in Mankato: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mankato, the largest foreign-born group is from Somalia (12.7%), and 4.0% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
17.0%
of residents
65 and Older
12.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
33.5%
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 12% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Mankato
In Mankato, rent runs 12% below the MN average, and home values are 21% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,551
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $303,583 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below MN average
Unemployment in Mankato
Unemployment in Mankato is 0.7 percentage points lower than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Mankato Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.9 min avg
How Mankato residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mankato, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 63 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 9% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mankato runs 9% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
300.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,186.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mankato Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Blue Earth County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Blue Earth County, which includes Mankato, 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 | Blizzard | $835,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | Winter Storm | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | 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
Blue Earth County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Blue Earth County, which includes Mankato, 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
Blue Earth County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mankato has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 9°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/9°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.4"
Annual Snowfall
38.7"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 6°F | 0.99" |
| Feb | 29°F | 9°F | 0.84" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.31" |
| May | 69°F | 47°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 5.64" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.26" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.31" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.30" |
| Oct | 60°F | 37°F | 2.37" |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 1.65" |
| Dec | 29°F | 13°F | 1.13" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mankato
Mankato has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
River's Edge Hospital & Clinic
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · St Peter
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mankato
Mankato's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 35.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Public · 4-year · 11,703 students · in-state tuition $10,280 · 58% graduate · median earnings $61,916 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 669 students · in-state tuition $32,660 · 55% graduate · median earnings $50,975 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 1,946 students · in-state tuition $6,434 · 39% graduate · median earnings $49,271 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,878 students · in-state tuition $58,024 · 76% graduate · median earnings $67,649 (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 & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 69 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mankato
Mankato has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (69 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mankato
Blue Earth County Library
100 East Main Street, Mankato
Cities Near Mankato
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mankato?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mankato FAQ
Is Mankato, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Mankato's median rent is $1,132/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,873/year. Median home value is $261,700.
Is Mankato, Minnesota safe?⌄
Mankato's violent crime rate was 301 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2186 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
Mankato has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Mankato is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,132/month and median household income is $66,873/year. The median home value is $261,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Mankato is 14 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