Cost of Living in Belle Plaine, MN

Population 7,401 · Minnesota · Data vintage 2023

96
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Belle Plaine is a smaller Minnesota community of around 7000 residents, where median household incomes of $96,831 and housing costs ($280,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. An unemployment rate of 0.3% points to a labor market well on the tight side of the national distribution.

Geographically, Belle Plaine is about 35 miles southwest of Minneapolis, the nearest large metro. Median home values run roughly 19% lower than Minneapolis' $346,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 92
Rent 102

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Belle Plaine

The median home value in Belle Plaine is $280,400 — 8% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,336/month, 2% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $96,831/year is 30% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 0.3%, below the national average of 4.8%. Minnesota's top state income tax rate is 9.8% and the combined sales tax is 7.4%. Overall, Belle Plaine has a cost of living index of 96 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 4% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$280,400
8% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$344,285
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,336/mo
2% above avg
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.5x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
1.1%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$702
1 BR
$784
2 BR
$937
3 BR
$1,307
4 BR
$1,537
Owner-occupied 83.4%
Renter-occupied 16.6%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,336
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,950/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
29.1 min
8% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
5.8%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
81.4%
Carpooled
9.8%
Public transit
0.2%
Bicycle
0.7%
Work from home
5.8%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 9.8%
Total Sales Tax 7.4%
State rate 6.9%
Avg local rate 0.6%
Property Tax 1.1%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$96,831
30% above avg
Per Capita Income
$42,581
Unemployment Rate
0.3%
95% below avg
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor Force Participation
72.4%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 21.3%
Graduate degree 6.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 38.2
Male median age 39.2
Female median age 36.9

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 51 — Moderate
47.4%
Good air days/yr
179
Max AQI recorded
219
PM2.5 days
146
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

92%
4-Year Graduation Rate
17.6:1
Student-teacher ratio
6
Public schools
1,622
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Belle Plaine, MN?

Belle Plaine has a cost index of 96 (100 = national average). It is 4% below the national average.

What is average rent in Belle Plaine, MN?

The median gross rent in Belle Plaine is $1,336 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Belle Plaine?

The median home value in Belle Plaine is $280,400 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Belle Plaine?

The median household income in Belle Plaine is $96,831 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Belle Plaine, MN?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Belle Plaine is 7.4%. The Minnesota state income tax top rate is 9.8%.

Is Belle Plaine, MN affordable?

Belle Plaine is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 96 (100 = US average).

Belle Plaine at a Glance

Population
7,401
Median Income
$96,831
Home Value
$280,400
Median Rent
$1,336/mo
Unemployment
0.3%
Sales Tax
7.4%
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🗺️ County data for Minnesota

Explore county-level cost of living data

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