Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Among the top 22% of US counties for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 46% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 78% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 74% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 72% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 60% of US counties
- top 5% for commute time
- top 13% for park & nature access
- bottom 6% for income tax
Cottonwood County is a county in Minnesota with about 11,000 residents. It grades B+ for weather and C for affordability. Standout strengths include commute time, park & nature access, and cost of living. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and income tax.
Official websiteco.cottonwood.mn.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
v.cold
freez.
78%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.1 in0.9 in
humid 96%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$64k59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 86% of US counties
Home Value$142k39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$755better than 66% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 56% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.12%better than 31% of US counties
Income Tax9.90%better than 6% of US counties
Sales Tax8.04%better than 38% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden15.05%better than 8% of US counties
Unemployment3.9%better than 66% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)15°F6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation31.4 in26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall43.7 inbetter than 16% of US counties
Sunny Days255 daysbetter than 71% of US counties
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 66% of US counties
Comfortable Days90 daysbetter than 78% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk27.7better than 71% of US counties
School Quality65.1better than 68% of US counties
Violent Crime746/100kbetter than 52% of US counties
Property Crime583/100kbetter than 68% of US counties
Community
Population11,48126th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.449th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2749th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0158th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3950th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)83.5%55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.6%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)9.1%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.7%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.1%17th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time16 minbetter than 95% of US counties
Walkability6.1/20better than 51% of US counties
Airport Distance113 mibetter than 41% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access83.0%better than 48% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.87better than 35% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 87% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cottonwood County an affordable place to live?
- Cottonwood County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 86% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Cottonwood County?
- The median home value in Cottonwood County is $142k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Cottonwood County?
- Median household income in Cottonwood County is $64k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Cottonwood County?
- Median gross rent in Cottonwood County is $755 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Cottonwood County safe?
- Cottonwood County is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 746/100k (better than 52%). Property crime is 583/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cottonwood County?
- Cottonwood County averages 72°F in July and 15°F in January, with 31.4 in of annual precipitation and about 255 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cottonwood County?
- Public-school quality in Cottonwood County is above average, scoring better than 68% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Cottonwood County?
- The average one-way commute in Cottonwood County is 16 min.
Other counties in Minnesota
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Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)