← All States

Minnesotaincome tax up to 9.85%, 20th highest property tax, median home $335K

D+4  ·  High tax burden  ·  COL index 95

C+

9.85%

Income Tax

286

Violent Crime / 100K

79.4

Life Expectancy

$335K

Median Home

$1,450

Childcare / Mo

Minnesota in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to Minnesota

Minnesota has a graduated income tax that reaches 9.85%, taxes Social Security above income thresholds, and has an estate tax with a $3 million exemption. In exchange it ranks near the top in health outcomes, school results and household income, and the Twin Cities metro holds more Fortune 500 headquarters per capita than any other. Winters are long and cold.

What Minnesota taxes, and what it doesn't

Minnesota levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 9.85%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 6.2%, about $4,640 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 6.8%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Minnesota has the 4th highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.

Property tax runs 1.02% of home value a year, roughly $3,417 on the state's median home of $335K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Minnesota has the 20th highest rate of the 50 states.

Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.42%, the 18th highest in the country (the state portion is 6.875%).

For retirees: Minnesota is one of the few states that taxes Social Security benefits, pension income is partly exempt, and an estate tax applies above $3 million.

Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.

Housing and the cost of living in Minnesota

Minnesota's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average; that is the 22nd cheapest of the 50 states.

The median home costs $335K, 10% above the national figure and the 22nd lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,450 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,700 a year, flood coverage adds about $600 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,430.

Budget $140 a month for electricity and gas, $500 a month in groceries for two, $1,450 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 286 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Minnesota is the 17th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,094 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 79.4 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 4.5% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Minnesota's health system 2nd of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 8th in the country.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, Minnesota is a competitive state that went to Harris by 4 points in 2024.

On guns, concealed-carry permits are shall-issue, a permit is required to buy a handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws B.

Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Minnesota is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $10.85 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are blizzard, tornado, flood. Annual average air quality index is 32 (under 50 is good).

Minnesota has a major hub airport, with about 155 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

State Profile

78/100
255075100TAXES51SAFETY73HEALTH98SCHOOLS86AFFORDABLE81LONGEVITY78

Minnesota will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Minnesota changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

Income Tax

9.85% top

Property Tax

~$3,417/yr on median home

1.02% / yr

Sales Tax

7.42% avg

Social Security

Taxed

Pension / IRA

Partial

Estate Tax

Yes — $3M exemption

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Near US average (100)

98.6

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.6%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

95

Median Home Price

$335,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,450/mo

Home Insurance

Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$1,700/yr

Flood Insurance

$600/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$500,000

Asset Protection

Strong

Homes in HOAs

Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)

16.1%

Zoning Restrictiveness

Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Average

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

No statewide STR law; local control.

Local Control

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

286 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

2,094 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

7.4 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)

333 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 23% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

159 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

State Healthcare Rank

Top tier

#2 of 50

Life Expectancy

Above national avg (76.4)

79.4 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

Well below national avg

4.5%

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

56%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$32,966/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

Top 10 nationally

#8 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

HS Graduation Rate

Near national avg (~87%)

84.9%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

15.3 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,450/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

Grid Carbon Intensity

Near US average (~820)

768 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$140/mo

Electricity Rate

Near national avg (13¢)

13.2¢/kWh

Energy Mix

33% renewable · ☀ 3% solar · 💨 26% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$500/mo

Road Quality Rank

#7 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

155+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Top-25 US airport by passengers

Yes

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

73% urban

Restaurant Density

450/100K

Religious Congregations

210/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

5 teams

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

7 venues

Craft Breweries

4.5/100K residents — Strong scene

260 breweries

Craft Distilleries

Strong spirits scene

55 distilleries

Live Music

Twin Cities live music density rivals Nashville per capita; First Avenue; Surly Brewing; Summerfest

Strong

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$1,430

Traffic Fatality Rate

7.4 / 100K

Broadband Access

87% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

400,430 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

40.3%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

66.9%

Abortion Access

State constitutional right; legal with no gestational limit

Protected

LGBTQ+ Protections

Comprehensive

Marijuana

Recreational

Minimum Wage

$10.85/hr

Right to Work

No

Sports Betting

Pending

Casino Gambling

Tribal casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

18 tribal casinos. Sports betting legislation in progress. Card clubs (Canterbury Park) legal.

Yes

Age of Consent

16

Sex Education

Sex ed required by state

Comprehensive

Medically Accurate Required

Yes

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Oakwood Club · Minnesota Naturists · Lake Region Outdoor Club

Clubs only

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

32

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

blizzardtornadoflood

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

2024 Presidential Vote

D+4

Gun Laws

Gun ControlB
2A LibertyD

Carry Permit

Shall-issue

Purchase Permit Required

Yes

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

No state prohibition; establishments may ban by notice.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Hunting & Outdoors

Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)

Public Land19% of state
Resident Deer License$33
Deer Archery SeasonSep 14 – Dec 31
CrossbowFull season

19% public land with accessible state forests. Deer archery opens mid-September. Bear hunting is also popular in northern Minnesota.

Minnesota DNR — Official Season Dates ↗

Finding nearby venues...

SponsorAffiliate link: we earn a commission if you buy. Your price is the same.

Ravin Crossbows

Hunting Wyoming elk or Kansas whitetail? Ravin's R500 is rated at 500 feet per second.

See Ravin crossbows

About this sponsor

Ravin sells it on rifle-style accuracy and HeliCoil cams. Those are Ravin's specs, not our test results. If your move comes with a hunting license, price this one first, and check the season dates on this page before you buy.

Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Tight labor market (US ~4.5%)

5.1%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

1.8%

Job Market

+1.3% job growth · 3% unemployment

Strong

Top Industries

HealthcareFinanceManufacturing

Tech Jobs

Strong tech presence

#11 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

Top healthcare job market

#3 of 50

Remote Work

24% of workers

Median Household Income

$87,340

Union Membership

Above-average union presence (BLS 2025)

14.1% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

Corporate Income Tax

High corporate rate — plan entity structure carefully

9.8%

LLC Formation Fee

$155 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

None

Business Climate Rank

#44 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.18 vs national avg)

$3.12/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks broadly legal since 2002

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 18°F

Harsh

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

83°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

27" / yr

Tornado Risk

Moderate

Hurricane Risk

Very Low

Wildfire Risk

Low

Flood Risk

Low

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

21LOW danger
Mosquito state bird (unofficial)Polar vortex: -40°F routineLyme disease zone

Venomous Snakes

Low

Spider Hazard

Low

Hurricane Risk

Minimal

Tornado Risk

Moderate

Wildfire Risk

Low

Earthquake Risk

Minimal

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

Veteran-Friendly Score

4.2% of state population are veterans

75/100

Property Tax Exemption

Disabled vet property tax exclusion

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Tax Exempt

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Good

Notable Benefits

Military retirement fully exempt since 2023

Explore Minnesota counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in Minnesota

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

Compare Similar States

MN vs IL

Minnesota vs Illinois

COL 95 vs 92 · 9.85% vs 4.95% income tax

Full comparison →

MN vs NM

Minnesota vs New Mexico

COL 95 vs 91 · 9.85% vs 5.9% income tax

Full comparison →

MN vs DE

Minnesota vs Delaware

COL 95 vs 102 · 9.85% vs 6.6% income tax

Full comparison →

MN vs VA

Minnesota vs Virginia

COL 95 vs 102 · 9.85% vs 5.75% income tax

Full comparison →

Trending in Minnesota

Who is funding campaigns in Minnesota’s governor’s race? - CBS News

CBS News · Sep 7

Why Amy Klobuchar Wants to Run a State Beleaguered by Trump - The New York Times

The New York Times · Sep 7

How the candidates for Minnesota governor would tackle shortage of affordable housing - MPR News

MPR News · Sep 2

Klobuchar, Demuth pound pavement at the Minnesota State Fair in campaign for governor - Minnesota Reformer

Minnesota Reformer · Sep 5

Politics at the Minnesota State Fair: Candidates mingle with voters ahead of November - InForum

InForum · Sep 7

What Residents Say

r/Minnesota Monthly FAQ / Moving-to-MN / Simple ...

Planning a potential move to Minnesota (or even moving within MN)? ... How are the people and communities, taxes, cost of living, safety, and ......

reddit.com ↗

Planning a move to Minnesota, housing advice needed

Single family homes for rent will easily be $2000+ a month even for one bedrooms. We are not an affordable state to live in. The budget you ......

reddit.com ↗

My parents are considering moving to Minnesota, but they ...

Tell them we have excellent health care systems, lots of green space and parks, and NO sales tax on food and clothing. Although people complain ......

reddit.com ↗

Thinking about moving here : r/TwinCities

Dakota and Scott Counties have lower property taxes and really good schools. They also have homes with land. As a former Floridian I must warn ......

reddit.com ↗

Moving to Minnesota, FAQ and Simple Questions Thread

MN has a higher cost of living than a good number of states, so you might want to compare wages against the cost of living to be sure that ......

reddit.com ↗

Median household income of the Midwestern states ...

Minnesota and Wisconsin have the same cost of living (besides taxes in MN being higher). More replies · HeftyLeftyPig. •. 26d ago. I've been ......

reddit.com ↗

I'm 19 years old I live in Minnesota : r/moving

If you have the MN progressive mindset, don't do FL. Cost of living is higher than MN and wages are lower. There is an affordable housing ......

reddit.com ↗

What is the benefit to living in a state long term and paying ...

I'm paying $30,000/year in state income tax alone. I would save a lot of money moving to anothe state with lower taxes, but my work and all of ......

reddit.com ↗

Taxes and Insurance increases in St. Paul : r/saintpaul

Minnesota actually doesn't have tax rates and instead has a levy based system. The levy needs to be increased in order to capture the increasing ......

reddit.com ↗

Looking into moving to MN : r/saintpaul

Taxes are palpably well spent, I know some natives won't agree but I've lived in a lot of place, the Twin Cities is exceptionally well off in ......

reddit.com ↗

Minnesota will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Minnesota changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.

Your Priorities

Adjust and every page updates live

Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable