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Living in
North Mankato.
About
Life in North Mankato
Living in North Mankato means getting a genuinely affordable Midwest life without sacrificing economic stability—the median household income sits at $80,791 with a median home value around $262,100, so you're building equity without the coastal price shock. The job market is tight (unemployment at 3.2%), and you're part of a 58,000-person metro area anchored by Mankato across the Minnesota River, giving you enough local employers without feeling like you're competing in a crowded urban job search. The community skews family-oriented and stable—nearly half of households are married couples, the median age hovers around 37, and about 43% of residents hold bachelor's degrees, which means you're surrounded by people who've invested in education and tend to stay put.
North Mankato at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
91.7%
of households
Population Growth
-0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Somalia
Who lives in North Mankato: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Mankato, the largest foreign-born group is from Somalia (35.1%), and 2.7% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
46.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.37
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 24% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in North Mankato
In North Mankato, rent runs 24% below the MN average, and home values are 20% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
28.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,161
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $309,901 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below MN average
Unemployment in North Mankato
Unemployment in Nicollet County, which includes North Mankato, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
North Mankato: Nicollet County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Nicollet County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Mankato Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.8 min avg
How North Mankato residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Mankato, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 89% 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 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Mankato runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
156
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
702
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Mankato Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
45.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Nicollet County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Nicollet County, which includes North 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 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2021 | 8 | Winter Storm | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Winter Storm | $35,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | 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
Nicollet 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 10 miles from North 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
Nearest EPA monitor county: Blue Earth County, MN (10 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North 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
33.9"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Mankato
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Mankato's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Mankato
River's Edge Hospital & Clinic
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.1 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.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Mankato
North Mankato's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in North Mankato
Public · 2-year · 1,946 students · in-state tuition $6,434 · 39% graduate · median earnings $49,271 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Minnesota State University-Mankato
3.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,703 students · in-state tuition $10,280 · 58% graduate · median earnings $61,916 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 669 students · in-state tuition $32,660 · 55% graduate · median earnings $50,975 (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, 70 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Mankato
North Mankato has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (70 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Mankato
North Mankato Central
1001 Belgrade Ave, North Mankato
Cities Near North Mankato
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Mankato?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Mankato FAQ
Is North Mankato, Minnesota affordable?⌄
North Mankato's median rent is $973/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $80,791/year. Median home value is $262,100.
Is North Mankato, Minnesota safe?⌄
North Mankato's violent crime rate was 156 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 702 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
Nicollet County, which includes North 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 North Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in North Mankato is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $973/month and median household income is $80,791/year. The median home value is $262,100. About 28% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Mankato, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in North Mankato is 15 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