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Living in Duluth, MN

Small city in Minnesota

Duluth is a small city in Minnesota, home to about 87,000 people, with 155,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Duluth a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Mild summers: highs around 72°F
  • Great outdoors: coast or a lake close by
  • Low natural disaster risk: 7 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $306k and rents for $1,690 a month

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,443 state income tax per resident, 1.18% property tax
  • Smaller job market: about 155,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Duluth ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
87,000
155,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
24°F / 72°F
Average daily highs · 56″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$306k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,690/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
89
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,443
State income tax per resident · 1.18% property tax
Safety
0.9× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
7 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
42%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MSP
141 mi away

Living in Duluth: common questions

What is the cost of living in Duluth?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $306k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,690 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 89, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Duluth?

Minnesota collects about $2,443 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.18% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Duluth safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.9× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Duluth?

Duluth has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 24°F and summer days around 72°F, with roughly 56″ of snow a year.

Does Duluth get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.2 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Duluth?

The nearest major airport is MSP, about 141 mi away.

How Duluth scores

Each bar compares Duluth with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Quiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Long, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Excellent
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Poor
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Average

Places like Duluth

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

See all the best places to live in Minnesota.

Is Duluth right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.