Signals
Owatonna
Menomonie
Growth
48 · Bottom 47%
vs40 · Bottom 33%
Climate
52 · Bottom 5%
vs53 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 18%
vs72 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs97 · Top 41%
Access
80 · Top 43%
vs91 · Top 22%
Economic stability
92 · Top 3%
vs82 · Top 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Owatonna | Menomonie | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,439 | 45,527 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,196 | $74,824 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,674 | $37,499 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 87/sq mi | 54/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $245,400 | $243,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,061 | $985 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.4% | 67.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 29.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 10.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 52 | 102 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 85.7% | -24.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 5°F | 6°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.5" | 33.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 36.1 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Owatonna
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Menomonie
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Full profiles: Owatonna, MN Micro Area · Menomonie, WI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology