What it's like to live in Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids is a smaller city in Minnesota with crime rates well below the national average and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Coon Rapids deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 44" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Coon Rapids compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Coon Rapids
Based on Coon Rapids's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,988
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,760 a year
- 54% of Coon Rapids renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$61,160
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,580
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,494/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,494 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $305,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $305,800 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 56% below US
146 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 1452/100k · Coon Rapids Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 7°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 29% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below 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 (19 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Coon Rapids's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,494/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Coon Rapids
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Champlin →
4 mi away · pop. 23,294
Rent $1,689/mo · Income $116,102
Compare with Coon Rapids →Moving to Brooklyn Park →
5 mi away · pop. 83,876
Rent $1,325/mo · Income $89,891
Compare with Coon Rapids →Not sure Coon Rapids is the one?
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