Duluth, MN
Census place 2717000 · pop 87,093
The Twin Ports here form the largest freshwater port in the world, watched over by the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge on Lake Superior.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2994 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
59.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.19% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
90.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$68,807 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
225 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$242,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
23.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,477/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
44.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Duluth: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Duluth, MN a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Duluth scores 53/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is property crime rate. Minnesota overall ranks #5 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Duluth, MN?
- Duluth reports 225 violent crimes per 100k and 2994 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Duluth, MN expensive to live in?
- Duluth has a median home value of $242,700 and typical rent around $1,477/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Duluth, MN?
- Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (2994/100k) — 12/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Duluth, MN best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (17 min) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The Twin Ports here form the largest freshwater port in the world, watched over by the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge on Lake Superior.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.