Detroit Lakes vs Waubun
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota versus Waubun, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Detroit Lakes edges out Waubun on overall objective livability (49 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Detroit Lakes | Waubun |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $60k | $57k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $43k |
| Home Value | $241k | $81k |
| Monthly Rent | $894 | $706 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $109 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.85% | 1.43% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.94% | 14.57% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 13.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 9°F | 8°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.4 in | 26.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.6 in | 47.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 233 days | 229 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 78 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 40.0 | 61.7 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 54 AQI |
| School Quality | 70.4 | 94.1 |
| Violent Crime | 665/100k | 2032/100k |
| Property Crime | 2190/100k | 1025/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 9,966 | 395 |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 30.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.13 | 0.66 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | R+31 | Even |
| White (%) | 93.1% | 33.9% |
| Black (%) | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Asian (%) | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 65.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 15 min | — |
| Walkability | 8.4/20 | 4.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 184 mi | 205 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.4% | 80.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 55.19 | 25.32 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
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 Detroit Lakes or Waubun more affordable?
- Waubun has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Detroit Lakes's $44k and Waubun's $43k. Median rent is $894 in Detroit Lakes versus $706 in Waubun.
- Is Detroit Lakes or Waubun safer?
- Detroit Lakes has the lower violent crime rate. Detroit Lakes reports 665/100k and Waubun reports 2032/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Detroit Lakes or Waubun?
- The median home value is $241k in Detroit Lakes and $81k in Waubun, so homes are more affordable in Waubun.