Park Rapids vs Walker
Park Rapids, Minnesota versus Walker, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Walker edges out Park Rapids on overall objective livability (45 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Park Rapids | Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $43k | $33k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $222k | $193k |
| Monthly Rent | $691 | $552 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $837 | $213 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 1.12% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.61% | 19.15% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 7.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 8°F | 8°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 23.9 in | 28.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.6 in | 48.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 233 days | 233 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 58°F |
| Comfortable Days | 75 days | 71 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 58.1 | 72.8 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 56 AQI |
| School Quality | 58.1 | 71.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1553/100k | 731/100k |
| Property Crime | 2914/100k | 626/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 4,163 | 937 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 54.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.19 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.63 |
| Political Leaning | R+30 | R+30 |
| White (%) | 87.3% | 76.8% |
| Black (%) | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.1% | 4.7% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.7% | 17.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 8.4/20 | 5.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 166 mi | 166 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 78.2% | 83.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 45.64 | 213.45 |
| 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 Park Rapids or Walker more affordable?
- Walker has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Park Rapids's $43k and Walker's $43k. Median rent is $691 in Park Rapids versus $552 in Walker.
- Is Park Rapids or Walker safer?
- Walker has the lower violent crime rate. Park Rapids reports 1553/100k and Walker reports 731/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Park Rapids or Walker?
- The median home value is $222k in Park Rapids and $193k in Walker, so homes are more affordable in Walker.