What it's like to live in Robbinsdale
Robbinsdale is a small city in Minnesota with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Robbinsdale deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Robbinsdale compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Robbinsdale
Based on Robbinsdale's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,516
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,320 a year
- 60% of Robbinsdale renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,560
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 24% above US
$1,758/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,758 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $295,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $295,600 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hennepin County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hennepin County (county-wide)
SafetyNear US average
339 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1372/100k · Robbinsdale Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% 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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 1.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 15% 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
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. 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 (13 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Robbinsdale's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,758/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Robbinsdale
All Minnesota guides →Moving to New Hope →
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Rent $1,335/mo · Income $77,662
Compare with Robbinsdale →Moving to Golden Valley →
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Rent $1,785/mo · Income $108,772
Compare with Robbinsdale →Moving to Brooklyn Center →
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