Mankato 77 Exceptional
Mankato Livability #132 ranked city in Minnesota#3,004 ranked city in the USARanks better than 89% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Mankato

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Mankato?

Mankato is a mid-sized city located in the state of Minnesota. The city has a population of 43,578 residents. The majority of Mankato residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Mankato could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 26 years old is below the nation’s average. Mankato is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 37% married, this city falls well below the national average. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Mankato offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 16 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Mankato could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Minnesota if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Mankato and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from crime, commute, education, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Minnesota and national averages.

Mankato has a livability score of 77 out of 100 and is ranked #124 in Minnesota and #2,807 in the USA. Compared to the national average, Mankato ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Mankato has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Mankato has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (A-), education (B) and housing (A+).

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Mankato can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Mankato is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Mankato come in at $341,528, which is 0.7% higher than the Minnesota average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Mankato, the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 16.2% higher than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Mankato

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Compare Mankato, MN Livability

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      Mankato transportation information

      Statistic Mankato Minnesota National
      Average one way commute16min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.4%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.9%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.8%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.1%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home6.6%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The Mankato, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.