Babbitt vs Grand Marais
Babbitt, Minnesota versus Grand Marais, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Grand Marais edges out Babbitt on overall objective livability (51 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Babbitt | Grand Marais |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $54k | $69k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $44k |
| Home Value | $88k | $260k |
| Monthly Rent | $684 | $901 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $546 | $515 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.82% | 0.90% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.88% | 15.98% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 1.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 10°F | 15°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 64°F | 61°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.8 in | 25.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 83.9 in | 50.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 days | 237 days |
| Summer Humidity | 56°F | 56°F |
| Comfortable Days | 58 days | 53 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 66.5 | 51.8 |
| Air Quality | 41 AQI | 45 AQI |
| School Quality | 80.4 | 82.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1526/100k | 0/100k |
| Property Crime | 436/100k | 0/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,377 | 1,768 |
| Median Age | 51.6 | 45.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.10 | 0.17 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.33 | 1.10 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+35 |
| White (%) | 94.9% | 90.6% |
| Black (%) | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.4% | 2.6% |
| Asian (%) | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.5% | 6.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 31 min | — |
| Walkability | 6.8/20 | 8.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 200 mi | 242 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 81.3% | 87.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.00 | 124.43 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
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 Babbitt or Grand Marais more affordable?
- Grand Marais has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Babbitt's $47k and Grand Marais's $44k. Median rent is $684 in Babbitt versus $901 in Grand Marais.
- Is Babbitt or Grand Marais safer?
- Grand Marais has the lower violent crime rate. Babbitt reports 1526/100k and Grand Marais reports 0/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Babbitt or Grand Marais?
- The median home value is $88k in Babbitt and $260k in Grand Marais, so homes are more affordable in Babbitt.