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Cook vs Barrett

202 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (41× in Cook) and rent (2.5× in Barrett).

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Cook, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 423 people
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Barrett, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 349 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CookA regional job hub
Work645 jobsbased in Cook, a regional job hub Housing$258K typical home26% below the MN typical home Outdoors15.3% conserved land4.1 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves All about Cook →
BarrettA regional job hub
Work264 jobsbased in Barrett, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 85%of MN districts Housing$283K typical home19% below the MN typical home All about Barrett →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails41×
Cook has more miles of trail
Cook 4.1 miBarrett 0.1 mi
Rent2.5×
Rent runs higher in Barrett
Barrett $1,337Cook $535
Average commute15 min
Cook has the shorter commute
Barrett 31 minCook 17 min
Jobs per worker2.1×
Cook is more of a job hub
Cook 3.24Barrett 1.52
Conserved land+15.3 pts
Cook has more conserved land
Cook 15.3%Barrett 0%
Seasonal homes+14.2 pts
Barrett has more second homes
Barrett 14.9%Cook 0.7%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Cook$1,560/mo
Typical home $258K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $535/mo · Housing →
Barrett$1,660/mo
Typical home $283K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $1,337/mo · Housing →

The difference: $100 a month, about $1,200 a year, between Barrett and Cook.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
–CookNot graded ABarrettBetter than 85% of districts in the state
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
CookBarrett
Snow a year61″45″
January low-5°F1°F
July high77°F81°F
Growing season (days)138d150d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)36th46th
Outdoors & history
CookBarrett
Trails4 mi—
Conserved land15.3%—
Settled19031887
National Register places—2
Archive photos—4
Community
CookBarrett
Library hours a week23 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

202 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CookMNBarrettMN
Cook ↔ Barrett202 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

CookBarrett
People
Population 423Highest 349Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -7% MN: +7.6% —
Median age 58.1±11.6Highest 50% above MN 54.4±9.3Lowest 40% above MN
Cook and Barrett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 12.3%±4.5Lowest MN: 22.9% 13.5%±6.3Highest MN: 22.9%
Barrett and Cook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 38.1%±12.4Highest MN: 17.3% 35.5%±9.9Lowest MN: 17.3%
Cook and Barrett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.1%Highest MN: 39.4% 14.4%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±2Highest MN: 5.8% 2.6%±1.8Lowest MN: 5.8%
Cook and Barrett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,250±$14kLowest 53% below MN $60,000±$26kHighest 33% below MN
Barrett and Cook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $104,900±$30kLowest 68% below MN $131,900±$37kHighest 60% below MN
Barrett and Cook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $535±$35Lowest 58% below MN $1,337±$532Highest 4% above MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $993Lowest 70% below MN $997Highest 70% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.5%±16.2Lowest MN: 48.1% 84.6%±19.8Highest MN: 48.1%
Barrett and Cook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.6%Highest MN: 9.3% 7.7%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67.3%Lowest MN: 72.2% 73.4%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1971Highest 8 yrs older than MN 1952Lowest 27 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 17 minLowest 27% below MN 31 minHighest 38% above MN
Work from home 6.4%±6.7Lowest MN: 17.6% 12.6%±11.5Highest MN: 17.6%
Barrett and Cook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 15.1%Highest 7.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.8 mi 23.8 mi
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 3.24Highest 1.52Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Virginia (24%)Morris (13%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BarrettFew work in Cook
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 15.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.1 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 19.0Highest 17.2Lowest
Schools
School district —WEST CENTRAL AREA
High school in town —West Central Area Secondary
Students per teacherat that high school — 12.6
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Cook neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cook’s Town Square.

Barrett neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Barrett’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Cook and Barrett

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Cook

F
+ Compare
Field Township285 people · $172K homes
O
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Owens Township378 people · $162K homes

Towns like Cook

L
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Littlefork636 people · $151K homes
+ Compare
Ulen413 people · $174K homes
H
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Hendricks517 people · $116K homes
H
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Hill City503 people · $162K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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