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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Minnesota, 2026

East Grand Forks is the most affordable ranked town in Minnesota. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

150
Towns ranked in Minnesota.
East Grand Forks
Number 1 in Minnesota. Rent is 13.7% of income. National rank 973.
17.7%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Minnesota.
0
Ranked Minnesota towns in the national top 100.
Minnetrista
Least affordable ranked town in Minnesota. Rent is 25.8% of income. National rank 5531.

Gasoline

$4.257

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,043.36 a year for every ranked town in Minnesota.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Minnesota." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/minnesota

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Benefits and taxes in Minnesota

Top 25

  1. #1 in Minnesota · National #973

    East Grand Forks

    Rent share 13.7% · Price level 86.7 · Score 0.301

    Median rent is $888 a month and median income is $77,549, so rent is 13.7% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Grand Forks, ND-MN metro price level is 86.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Minnesota · National #1281

    Byron

    Rent share 11.0% · Price level 90.8 · Score 0.322

    Median rent is $1,135 a month and median income is $124,010, so rent is 11.0% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Rochester, MN metro price level is 90.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in Minnesota · National #1350

    La Crescent

    Rent share 12.5% · Price level 91.8 · Score 0.327

    Median rent is $889 a month and median income is $85,368, so rent is 12.5% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro price level is 91.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  4. #4 in Minnesota · National #1358

    Lake City

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 90.8 · Score 0.327

    Median rent is $871 a month and median income is $72,244, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Rochester, MN metro price level is 90.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  5. #5 in Minnesota · National #1394

    Sauk Rapids

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.330

    Median rent is $964 a month and median income is $71,841, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The St. Cloud, MN metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Minnesota · National #1424

    Kasson

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 90.8 · Score 0.331

    Median rent is $1,113 a month and median income is $93,333, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Rochester, MN metro price level is 90.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Minnesota · National #1430

    North Mankato

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 91.0 · Score 0.332

    Median rent is $973 a month and median income is $80,791, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Mankato, MN metro price level is 91.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #8 in Minnesota · National #1463

    Hibbing

    Rent share 17.9% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.334

    Median rent is $833 a month and median income is $55,789, so rent is 17.9% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Duluth, MN-WI metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Minnesota · National #1528

    Crookston

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 86.7 · Score 0.339

    Median rent is $848 a month and median income is $57,315, so rent is 17.8% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Grand Forks, ND-MN metro price level is 86.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #10 in Minnesota · National #1540

    Virginia

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.339

    Median rent is $792 a month and median income is $51,720, so rent is 18.4% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Duluth, MN-WI metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  11. #11 in Minnesota · National #1600

    Stewartville

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 90.8 · Score 0.342

    Median rent is $1,070 a month and median income is $82,632, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Rochester, MN metro price level is 90.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Minnesota · National #1841

    St. Joseph

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.359

    Median rent is $1,136 a month and median income is $74,946, so rent is 18.2% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The St. Cloud, MN metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  13. #13 in Minnesota · National #1888

    International Falls

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.362

    Median rent is $645 a month and median income is $57,662, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  14. #14 in Minnesota · National #1900

    Moorhead

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 90.9 · Score 0.363

    Median rent is $1,033 a month and median income is $72,761, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Fargo, ND-MN metro price level is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Minnesota · National #2021

    Sartell

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.372

    Median rent is $1,275 a month and median income is $84,131, so rent is 18.2% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The St. Cloud, MN metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Minnesota · National #2120

    St. Peter

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 91.0 · Score 0.380

    Median rent is $961 a month and median income is $65,122, so rent is 17.7% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Mankato, MN metro price level is 91.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  17. #17 in Minnesota · National #2123

    Montevideo

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.380

    Median rent is $851 a month and median income is $68,596, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  18. #18 in Minnesota · National #2143

    Thief River Falls

    Rent share 14.1% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $838 a month and median income is $71,144, so rent is 14.1% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  19. #19 in Minnesota · National #2191

    Duluth

    Rent share 19.0% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.384

    Median rent is $1,087 a month and median income is $68,807, so rent is 19.0% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Duluth, MN-WI metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  20. #20 in Minnesota · National #2243

    Marshall

    Rent share 13.6% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $779 a month and median income is $68,566, so rent is 13.6% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  21. #21 in Minnesota · National #2250

    St. Cloud

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $1,003 a month and median income is $61,374, so rent is 19.6% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The St. Cloud, MN metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  22. #22 in Minnesota · National #2389

    Albert Lea

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.396

    Median rent is $857 a month and median income is $64,603, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  23. #23 in Minnesota · National #2414

    Cloquet

    Rent share 20.0% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.397

    Median rent is $1,024 a month and median income is $61,367, so rent is 20.0% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Duluth, MN-WI metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  24. #24 in Minnesota · National #2457

    Redwood Falls

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 98.6 · Score 0.400

    Median rent is $832 a month and median income is $61,750, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minnesota state price level is 98.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  25. #25 in Minnesota · National #2512

    Rochester

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 90.8 · Score 0.404

    Median rent is $1,399 a month and median income is $89,389, so rent is 18.8% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Rochester, MN metro price level is 90.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

Least affordable 10

  1. #150 in Minnesota · National #5531

    Minnetrista

    Rent share 25.8% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.674

    Median rent is $3,501 a month and median income is $163,051, so rent is 25.8% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #149 in Minnesota · National #5278

    St. Paul Park

    Rent share 25.9% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.634

    Median rent is $2,174 a month and median income is $100,642, so rent is 25.9% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #148 in Minnesota · National #5260

    Hopkins

    Rent share 23.4% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.632

    Median rent is $1,468 a month and median income is $75,234, so rent is 23.4% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  4. #147 in Minnesota · National #5168

    Robbinsdale

    Rent share 23.9% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.621

    Median rent is $1,758 a month and median income is $88,252, so rent is 23.9% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #146 in Minnesota · National #5145

    White Bear Lake

    Rent share 23.0% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.619

    Median rent is $1,601 a month and median income is $83,554, so rent is 23.0% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  6. #145 in Minnesota · National #5063

    West St. Paul

    Rent share 22.5% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.609

    Median rent is $1,282 a month and median income is $68,464, so rent is 22.5% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  7. #144 in Minnesota · National #5029

    Brooklyn Center

    Rent share 22.8% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.605

    Median rent is $1,376 a month and median income is $72,535, so rent is 22.8% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  8. #143 in Minnesota · National #4976

    Little Canada

    Rent share 21.8% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.599

    Median rent is $1,417 a month and median income is $77,957, so rent is 21.8% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  9. #142 in Minnesota · National #4968

    Cambridge

    Rent share 22.6% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.598

    Median rent is $1,302 a month and median income is $69,154, so rent is 22.6% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  10. #141 in Minnesota · National #4924

    Apple Valley

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.594

    Median rent is $1,738 a month and median income is $97,673, so rent is 21.4% of income, over the 17.7% median for ranked towns in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.257 a gallon (Minnesota). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Minnesota in this index?

East Grand Forks is number 1 of 150 ranked towns in Minnesota. Median rent is 13.7% of median income. Its national rank is 973.

How many towns in Minnesota were ranked?

150 towns in Minnesota have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Minnesota?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.