Albert Lea 71 Excellent
Albert Lea Livability #258 ranked city in Minnesota#5,989 ranked city in the USARanks better than 79% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Albert Lea

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

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What's it like Living in Albert Lea?

Albert Lea is a medium-sized city located in the state of Minnesota. The city has a population of 17,804 people. At 86%, the majority of the Albert Lea population is White; this is followed by 4% Asian and 2% Black. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Albert Lea. With an average one way commute time of only 18 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Albert Lea can be a positive experience for anyone moving to the town. Having said that, in the state of Minnesota, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like amenities, crime, health & safety, education, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Albert Lea and in the areas around Albert Lea is a much easier task.

Albert Lea, MN receives 69/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #276 in Minnesota and #6,727 in the USA. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Albert Lea ranks well for crime (B), cost of living (A+) and housing (B+) Albert Lea does not rank well for the following: amenities (F) and employment (D). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 147 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Albert Lea boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

The unemployment rate in Albert Lea has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.52%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Albert Lea has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Albert Lea. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Albert Lea are affordable. The median home price for Albert Lea homes is $102,700, which is 46.4% lower than the Minnesota average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Albert Lea, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.2, which is 26.7% lower than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Albert Lea

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Compare Albert Lea, MN Livability

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      Albert Lea transportation information

      Statistic Albert Lea Minnesota National
      Average one way commute18min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.7%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.4%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.6%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.9%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.3%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home3.7%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The Albert Lea, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).