City Comparison
Edina vs Mankato
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Mankato scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Edina
Mankato
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mankato is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Edina.
Housing costs are a major driver: Edina's average rent is
52% higher than Mankato's.
| Metric | Edina | Mankato | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,150 | +52% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $170 | +3% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,695 | $2,040 | +32% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 91 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 32% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Mankato delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Edina is estimated at
$65,000 vs $48,000 in Mankato.
| Metric | Edina | Mankato |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,600 idx | 68,132 idx |
| Household Income | $128,500 | $65,400 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Edina sees 5.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Edina | Mankato |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.10°F | 48.10°F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | 79.60°F |
| Winter Low | 7.70°F | 9.30°F |
| Rainfall | 41.70 in | 38.60 in |
| Snowfall | 30.50 in | 25.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 | 258 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Mankato has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Edina.
Edina scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Mankato leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Edina | Mankato |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 46.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Edina is the larger city
— approximately 1.2x the population of Mankato.
From a growth perspective, Mankato is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Edina | Mankato |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,285 | 44,488 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 30.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Edina
Advantages
Edina Public Schools consistently rank among the top school districts in the state of Minnesota per Niche and state testing data.
Crime rates in Edina are significantly below the national average, making it one of the safest municipalities in the Midwest per FBI crime reports.
The city features over 1,500 acres of parkland and public spaces, including the premier Centennial Lakes Park per the Edina Parks and Recreation Department.
Strategic location offers a commute of under 20 minutes to downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Home to iconic regional shopping and dining destinations like 50th & France and Southdale Center per local municipal economic reports.
Drawbacks
Median home purchase prices and rental rates are considerably higher than the national and state averages per Zillow housing market data.
Property tax rates in Edina reflect high municipal service levels, adding to the overall cost of homeownership per Hennepin County tax records.
The local housing market is highly competitive with limited inventory for first-time homebuyers per recent real estate market summaries.
High reliance on automobiles for daily transit outside of immediate commercial nodes per regional transportation studies.
Strict municipal zoning and architectural codes can increase renovation and building costs for homeowners per Edina city planning documents.
Mankato
Advantages
Median home prices in Mankato remain well below the national average per 2024 Zillow data.
Mayo Clinic Health System provides top-tier regional healthcare and major employment opportunities.
Minnesota State University, Mankato infuses the city with cultural events, sports, and a youthful energy.
Extensive outdoor recreation network featuring Riverfront Park and miles of paved biking trails.
Consistently lower unemployment rate compared to the national average per Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Drawbacks
Winters are long and harsh, with significant snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Public transit options are limited outside of core bus routes and the immediate university area.
Rental vacancy rates can tighten significantly during the academic fall semester startup.
Limited direct access to commercial air travel, requiring a trip to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Higher than average state income taxes typical of Minnesota apply to local earners.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Edina
#238Minnesota, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
46.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
47.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
91
Business
78
Mankato
#110Minnesota, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
91
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.10°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
77
Business
70
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