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Living in
White Bear Lake.
About
Life in White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake is a community of 24,026 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $83,554, median rent runs about $1,601 per month, and median home values are around $332,000. Unemployment is low at 4.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
White Bear Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
-6.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Thailand
Who lives in White Bear Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In White Bear Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from Thailand (10.0%), and 3.5% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.9%
of households
Married Couples
42.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
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 25% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in White Bear Lake
In White Bear Lake, rent runs 25% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,576
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $356,378 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above MN average
Unemployment in White Bear Lake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in White Bear Lake is 0.4 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What White Bear Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute22 min avg
How White Bear Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In White Bear Lake, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 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 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in White Bear Lake runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
94.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,092.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
White Bear Lake Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ramsey County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ramsey County, which includes White Bear Lake, the most common type is winter storm, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Hail | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 4 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $500 |
| 2020 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | 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
Ramsey County, county-wide
White Bear Lake is about 4% of Ramsey County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ramsey County, which includes White Bear Lake, is typically good — 256 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
256
per year
Moderate Days
100
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Ramsey County, county-wide
White Bear Lake is about 4% of Ramsey County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
White Bear Lake has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.8"
Annual Snowfall
40.4"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
157
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
98
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 8°F | 0.78" |
| Feb | 30°F | 11°F | 0.81" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 1.50" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 3.12" |
| May | 69°F | 50°F | 4.31" |
| Jun | 79°F | 60°F | 4.52" |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 4.47" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 4.45" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.13" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 3.08" |
| Nov | 43°F | 28°F | 1.84" |
| Dec | 30°F | 16°F | 1.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in White Bear Lake
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside White Bear Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
M Health Fairview St John's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Maplewood
Gillette Childrens Specialty Hospital
Childrens · 8.5 mi away · Saint Paul
Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.5 mi away · Saint Paul
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.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near White Bear Lake (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
12.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University-Saint Paul
10.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,018 students · in-state tuition $26,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,009 (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, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
9 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake Library
4698 Clark Avenue, White Bear Lake
Cities Near White Bear Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to White Bear Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
White Bear Lake FAQ
Is White Bear Lake, Minnesota affordable?⌄
White Bear Lake's median rent is $1,601/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $83,554/year. Median home value is $331,800.
Is White Bear Lake, Minnesota safe?⌄
White Bear Lake's violent crime rate was 95 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 1093 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in White Bear Lake, Minnesota?⌄
White Bear Lake has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in White Bear Lake, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in White Bear Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,601/month and median household income is $83,554/year. The median home value is $331,800. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in White Bear Lake, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in White Bear Lake is 22 minutes, which is about 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