What it's like to live in Apple Valley
Apple Valley is a smaller city in Minnesota with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Apple Valley deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 41" per year
How Apple Valley compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Apple Valley
Based on Apple Valley's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,476
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,520 a year
- 52% of Apple Valley renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,040
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 23% above US
$1,738/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,738 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $370,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $370,400 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 38% below US
204 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1456/100k · Apple Valley Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 7°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 27% above US
46% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 46% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Apple Valley's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,738/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Apple Valley
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Burnsville →
4 mi away · pop. 64,463
Rent $1,513/mo · Income $87,024
Compare with Apple Valley →Moving to Lakeville →
5 mi away · pop. 74,354
Rent $1,806/mo · Income $139,041
Compare with Apple Valley →Moving to Farmington →
6 mi away · pop. 23,902
Rent $1,241/mo · Income $123,673
Compare with Apple Valley →Not sure Apple Valley is the one?
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