Albert Lea vs Clarks Grove
Albert Lea, Minnesota versus Clarks Grove, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Clarks Grove edges out Albert Lea on overall objective livability (51 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Albert Lea | Clarks Grove |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $56k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $135k | $118k |
| Monthly Rent | $814 | $858 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $6k | $219 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.11% | 1.02% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.19% | 14.58% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 15°F | 15°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.8 in | 37.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5 in | 39.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 224 days | 224 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 88 days | 92 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 53.3 | 63.7 |
| Air Quality | 22 AQI | 37 AQI |
| School Quality | 59.6 | 59.6 |
| Violent Crime | 1156/100k | 845/100k |
| Property Crime | 1772/100k | 1303/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 18,434 | 738 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 34.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.47 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.21 |
| Political Leaning | R+16 | R+16 |
| White (%) | 77.6% | 66.7% |
| Black (%) | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 15.3% | 4.2% |
| Asian (%) | 3.5% | 25.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.9% | 3.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 8.0/20 | 6.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 85 mi | 78 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 80.6% | 94.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 27.12 | 27.10 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Albert Lea or Clarks Grove more affordable?
- Clarks Grove has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Albert Lea's $43k and Clarks Grove's $43k. Median rent is $814 in Albert Lea versus $858 in Clarks Grove.
- Is Albert Lea or Clarks Grove safer?
- Clarks Grove has the lower violent crime rate. Albert Lea reports 1156/100k and Clarks Grove reports 845/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Albert Lea or Clarks Grove?
- The median home value is $135k in Albert Lea and $118k in Clarks Grove, so homes are more affordable in Clarks Grove.