Cost of Living in Red Wing, MN

Population 16,660 · Minnesota · Data vintage 2023

73
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Housing costs in Red Wing stay well under national norms: a median home value of $225,000 against median household incomes of $65,259 gives the city one of the more comfortable price-to-income ratios in Minnesota.

Red Wing is about 35 miles southeast of St. Paul, the nearest large metro — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 20% lower than St. Paul's $280,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 74
Rent 73

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

About the Cost of Living in Red Wing

The median home value in Red Wing is $224,800 — 26% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $954/month, 27% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $65,259/year is 12% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.7%, 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, Red Wing has a cost of living index of 73 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 27% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$224,800
26% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$280,070
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$954/mo
27% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,295/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.6x
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 70.8%
Renter-occupied 29.2%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$954
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,568/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
21.1 min
22% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
7.5%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
76.7%
Carpooled
10.5%
Public transit
1.4%
Walked
2.2%
Bicycle
0.6%
Work from home
7.5%

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
$65,259
12% below avg
Per Capita Income
$40,467
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
3% below avg
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Labor Force Participation
60.6%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 17.4%
Graduate degree 8.8%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 42.2
Male median age 40.1
Female median age 43.8

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 43 — Good
83.2%
Good air days/yr
133
Max AQI recorded
0
PM2.5 days
238
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

92%
4-Year Graduation Rate
16.9:1
Student-teacher ratio
5
Public schools
2,681
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Red Wing, MN?

Red Wing has a cost index of 73 (100 = national average). It is 27% below the national average.

What is average rent in Red Wing, MN?

The median gross rent in Red Wing is $954 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Red Wing?

The median home value in Red Wing is $224,800 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Red Wing?

The median household income in Red Wing is $65,259 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Red Wing, MN?

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

Is Red Wing, MN affordable?

Yes, Red Wing is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 73 — about 27% below the US national average of 100.

Red Wing at a Glance

Population
16,660
Median Income
$65,259
Home Value
$224,800
Median Rent
$954/mo
Unemployment
4.7%
Sales Tax
7.4%
View all cities in Minnesota →
🗺️ County data for Minnesota

Explore county-level cost of living data

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