What it's like to live in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a small 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. Cottage Grove 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
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 51" per year
How Cottage Grove compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cottage Grove
Based on Cottage Grove's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,566
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,320 a year
- 53% of Cottage Grove renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,880
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,783/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,783 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 $378,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $378,800 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 81% below US
64 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 619/100k · Cottage Grove Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 9°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 13% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (12 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cottage Grove'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 ($1,783/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Cottage Grove
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Woodbury →
6 mi away · pop. 78,305
Rent $1,908/mo · Income $125,310
Compare with Cottage Grove →Moving to Inver Grove Heights →
6 mi away · pop. 35,906
Rent $1,465/mo · Income $101,316
Compare with Cottage Grove →Moving to Hastings →
7 mi away · pop. 22,117
Rent $1,183/mo · Income $93,998
Compare with Cottage Grove →Moving to South St. Paul →
7 mi away · pop. 20,611
Rent $1,199/mo · Income $87,994
Compare with Cottage Grove →Not sure Cottage Grove is the one?
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