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Best Cities for Rental Property in Minnesota

16 Minnesota cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Minnesota markets is 3.1%, with median home prices averaging $310K and rents averaging $1,353/mo. Duluth leads with a 5.8% cap rate at a $250K median price. Property taxes average 1.12% across Minnesota markets.

3.1%
Avg Cap Rate
$310K
Avg Price
$1,353/mo
Avg Rent
16
Cities Tracked

Minnesota Rental Market Analysis

Minnesota offers 16 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.1% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Minnesota home prices average $310K, which is 7% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,353/mo. The most affordable entry point is Austin at $195K, while Duluth offers the highest cap rate at 5.8%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.12% across Minnesota, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Duluth has the lowest rate at 1.08%.Vacancy averages 4.8%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Minnesota averages 0.51% per year, led by Rochester at 1.2%. Home values are appreciating at 2.6% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Minnesota is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Minnesota Compares to National Averages

Metric
Minnesota
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.1%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$310K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,353/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.12%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
4.8%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.51%/yr
0.92%/yr

Minnesota Cities by Cap Rate Tier

5% – 6% (1)4% – 5% (1)3% – 4% (8)Below 3% (6)

All 16 Minnesota Cities Ranked

1
Duluth, MN5.8% cap rate
$250K median$1,680/mo rent1.08% tax0.2% growth
2
Bemidji, MN4.4% cap rate
$255K median$1,420/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
3
Rochester, MN3.7% cap rate
$330K median$1,620/mo rent1.1% tax1.2% growth
4
Faribault, MN3.7% cap rate
$340K median$1,660/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
5
Winona, MN3.1% cap rate
$275K median$1,220/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
6
Hutchinson, MN3.1% cap rate
$285K median$1,250/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
7
Minneapolis, MN3.1% cap rate
$380K median$1,660/mo rent1.12% tax0.6% growth
8
Bloomington, MN3.1% cap rate
$380K median$1,660/mo rent1.14% tax0.3% growth
9
Mankato, MN3.0% cap rate
$300K median$1,300/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
10
St. Paul, MN3.0% cap rate
$380K median$1,660/mo rent1.15% tax0.4% growth
11
Austin, MN2.9% cap rate
$195K median$830/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
12
St. Cloud, MN2.6% cap rate
$305K median$1,210/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
13
Owatonna, MN2.5% cap rate
$290K median$1,130/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
14
Red Wing, MN2.4% cap rate
$315K median$1,190/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
15
Brainerd, MN2.0% cap rate
$345K median$1,180/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth
16
Alexandria, MN1.5% cap rate
$330K median$980/mo rent1.12% tax0.5% growth

Other Midwest States

Illinois (17 cities · 4.4% avg)Indiana (25 cities · 4.0% avg)Michigan (22 cities · 3.9% avg)Kansas (14 cities · 3.8% avg)Ohio (27 cities · 3.7% avg)Missouri (17 cities · 3.3% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Minnesota a good state for rental property investing?
Minnesota has an average cap rate of 3.1% across 16 cities. The best-performing city is Duluth at 5.8%. Average home prices of $310K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 1.12% are moderate.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Minnesota?
Duluth leads Minnesota with a 5.8% cap rate, $250K median price, and $1,680/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Rochester (1.2% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Minnesota?
Property taxes in Minnesota average 1.12%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Duluth at 1.08%. On an average-priced home of $310K, annual taxes are approximately $3,467.
How many Minnesota cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 16 Minnesota cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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