Northfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Northfield
Faribault
Opportunity
58 · Top 45%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Growth
60 · Top 32%
vs51 · Top 49%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs52 · Bottom 2%
Physical resilience
68 · Top 40%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs83 · Top 46%
Schools
76 · Top 18%
vs22 · Bottom 13%
Access
84 · Bottom 28%
vs78 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
62 · Top 47%
vs47 · Bottom 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Northfield | Faribault | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,742 | 24,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,895 | $61,449 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,703 | $33,225 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,428/sq mi | 1,568/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $329,400 | $241,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,103 | $1,074 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 66.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 17.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 28 | 27 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 133.3% | 3.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 5°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 31.6" | 35.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 40 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.2 | 38.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.47 | 11.46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 59.5% | 16.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 62.1% | 32.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 28.7% | 68.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Northfield
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Faribault
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Northfield
69
Your Score
68
Area Score
Faribault
54
Your Score
51
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Northfield, MN · Faribault, MN · How this is calculated: methodology