What it's like to live in Plymouth
Plymouth 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 commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Plymouth deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Plymouth compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Plymouth
Based on Plymouth's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,532
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,640 a year
- 41% of Plymouth renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$98,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $49,120
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 25% above US
$1,766/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,766 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $491,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $491,200 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 23% below US
3.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 80% below US
65 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 856/100k · Plymouth Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 29% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 83% above US
66% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
35 public schools inside the boundary
There are 35 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
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
Plymouth'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 home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,766/mo) equals 16% 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 (29% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Plymouth
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Golden Valley →
5 mi away · pop. 21,725
Rent $1,785/mo · Income $108,772
Compare with Plymouth →Moving to Maple Grove →
6 mi away · pop. 71,173
Rent $1,868/mo · Income $132,731
Compare with Plymouth →Not sure Plymouth is the one?
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