B-

Kandiyohi, MN

Source:

Affordability Score: 67/100

Population: 987 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Kandiyohi, MN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 987 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (67/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,917, median home value of $218,400, median rent of $787 per month, and 24.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $973 per month (studio $782, 1BR $787, 3BR $1,353, 4BR $1,632). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,972 per year, consuming 14% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Kandiyohi, MN include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 2.2% and poverty 3.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,917
Median household income
Education F
24.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.8x
Home value $218,400 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$973/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$10,972/yr
Center-based infant care (14% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,917
▲ 24% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,878
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Poverty Rate
3.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$218,400
▼ 21% vs national
Median Rent
$787/mo
Owner Occupied
81.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$973/mo
▼ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$782
1BR
$787
2BR
$973
3BR
$1,353
4BR
$1,632

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
24.6%
▼ 5 ppt vs national
High School+
50.6%
Median Age
42.6
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,972/yr
14% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,244/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,447/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,493/yr

What This Means

Kandiyohi, MN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 987. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Kandiyohi, MN affordable?
Kandiyohi, MN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,917. Median home value is $218,400.
What is the cost of living in Kandiyohi?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $787/mo. 2BR fair market rent $973/mo. Infant childcare $10,972/yr. Median home value $218,400.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →