Cottonwood, Minnesota
Among the top 23% of US places for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 52% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 77% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 43% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 50% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 43% of US places
- top 13% for park & nature access
- top 13% for cost of living
- bottom 6% for air quality
Cottonwood is a small community in Minnesota with about 1,150 residents. It grades B+ for weather and C for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include park & nature access, cost of living, and monthly rent. It rates lower on income tax and air quality.
- The median home value in Cottonwood is $167k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Cottonwood is $79k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Cottonwood is $683 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Cottonwood has a violent crime rate of 719/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- July temperatures in Cottonwood average around 72°F, per the NOAA nClimGrid.
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
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80%57%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.8 in0.9 in
humid 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$79k71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 87% of US places
Home Value$167k52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$683better than 83% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$362better than 44% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.11%better than 44% of US places
Income Tax9.90%better than 14% of US places
Sales Tax8.04%better than 40% of US places
Estimated total tax burden14.88%better than 18% of US places
Unemployment3.3%better than 55% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)14°F4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation28.9 in22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall43.5 inbetter than 18% of US places
Sunny Days255 daysbetter than 74% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 61% of US places
Comfortable Days93 daysbetter than 76% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk80.8better than 25% of US places
Air Quality54 AQIbetter than 6% of US places
School Quality89.6better than 81% of US places
Violent Crime719/100kbetter than 51% of US places
Property Crime399/100kbetter than 75% of US places
Community
Population1,15054th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.136th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1540th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0463rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2752nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)90.7%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.0%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.8%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.1%55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)1.4%33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Walkability7.6/20better than 69% of US places
Airport Distance122 mibetter than 27% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.3%better than 37% of US places
Amenities Nearby17.39better than 19% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 87% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cottonwood an affordable place to live?
- Cottonwood is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 87% of comparable areas. Median rent is $683.
- Is Cottonwood safe?
- Cottonwood is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 719/100k (better than 51%). Property crime is 399/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cottonwood?
- Cottonwood averages 72°F in July and 14°F in January, with 28.9 in of annual precipitation and about 255 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cottonwood?
- Public-school quality in Cottonwood is above average, scoring better than 81% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.