States › Minnesota › North Branch

Is North Branch, MN expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 18 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,44718% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$97,557about $8,130/month · 12% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$322,3003% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 61% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.3 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.7 minutes each way. Most homes (82.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $57,880 a year. That is $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Minnesota cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Minnesota. It is number 64 of 150 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

North Branch
$1,447
Mendota Heights
$2,060
Victoria
$2,472
Grand Rapids
$1,785
East Bethel
$1,875
St. Peter
$1,152
Big Lake
$1,482

How much do households earn in North Branch?

Under $25k
10.3%
$25k–50k
19.1%
$50k–100k
38.6%
$100k–150k
18.3%
$150k+
11.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 29.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in North Branch

SizeNorth BranchU.S. average
1 bedroom$926$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,241$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,689$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is North Branch overall?

Everyday prices in Minnesota overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
91
Goods (food, clothes…)
101
Utilities
91
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for North Branch, so the Minnesota figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in North Branch

🏛️ Property tax$3,536a year · 1.10% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$146a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in North Branch

Commute to work30.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree18.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home82.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line7.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in North Branch?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $789 a month less.

Renting
$1,447
Owning
$2,236

Owning assumes a typical $322,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,230 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in North Branch, MN?

Renting in North Branch costs a median of about $1,447 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Minnesota median is $1,525.

How much do I need to make to live in North Branch?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $57,880 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is North Branch cheap or expensive?

North Branch is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.8% of the typical household income of $97,557. It ranks 64th cheapest of 150 Minnesota cities we track.

How much are property taxes in North Branch?

The median homeowner in North Branch pays $3,536 a year in property taxes, about 1.10% of the median home value.

Is North Branch more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Minnesota are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in North Branch?

The median home value in North Branch is $322,300, about 3.3 times the typical yearly household income.

11,565 people live in North Branch. Numbers are typical (middle) values.