PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Mankato, MN

LiveAbility 57.3/100 places Mankato #93 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

91.0
Cost index (US=100)
$1,171
2BR rent / mo
$70,136
Median salary
57.3
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Mankato ranks #93 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (57.3/100), with its strongest marks in job market and housing.

#93
of 387 US metros · Above median
5,793,151
metro-area population
259
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
2,391
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: low hazard (31/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Mankato ranks #93 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,171/mo, median salary $70,136; LiveAbility Score 57.3/100, strongest in job market and housing.

Signature: LiveAbility 57.3/100 places Mankato #93 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 91.0 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,171/mo.

LiveAbility 57.3/100 puts Mankato in the top third (#93 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Mankato area is 48,900.

Mankato vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

57 Top 24% higher than 76% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Mankato housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Mankato MSA; housing RPP 79.9 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,171/mo.

Studio
$971
/month
1 Bedroom
$977
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,171
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,629
/month
4 Bedroom
$1,916
/month

Mankato wages and employment

Mankato posts 48,900 total employment with median salary $70,136 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$70,136
Mean Salary
$73,202
Total Employment
48,900

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $37,560
Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,000
Retail Salespersons $35,350
Registered Nurses $103,400
General and Operations Managers $86,890

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Mankato area from NCES.

Schools
2,391
Enrollment
872,336
Student:Teacher
15.8:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Mankato area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$11,722
per year
Toddler (Center)
$10,737
per year
Preschool (Center)
$9,850
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Mankato's composite Life Score is 59.5/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
69/100
Strong
Wages
74/100
Strong
Rent
70/100
Strong
Crime
66/100
Strong
Schools
54/100
Average
Childcare
34/100
Weak
Environment
17/100
Bottom decile

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Mankato ranks #93 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 57.3/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Job market (74/100)

Mankato - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Mankato's strongest dimensions are job market and housing; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 31/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Mankato to

Kennewick-Richland Kenosha Killeen-Temple Kingsport-Bristol Kingston Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh

Metros near Mankato on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Mankato on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Mankato cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Mankato wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Mankato?

Mankato runs a $70,136 median salary at a 91.0 cost index, ranking #93 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Mankato's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Mankato head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Mankato
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.