Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Mayer vs Cologne

10 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.1× in Cologne) and growth since 2010 (+5.5 pts in Mayer).

×
Mayer, MNAn outdoors townMinnesota · 2,518 people
×
Cologne, MNOne of the healthiest townsMinnesota · 2,282 people
Swap order
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.

MayerAn outdoors town
Outdoors#26 most trails in MN1.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 68%of MN districts HealthHealthier than 82%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Mayer →
CologneOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 86%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts History9 archive photos & papers3 places on the National Register All about Cologne →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

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

Jobs per worker4.1×
Cologne is more of a job hub
Cologne 0.41Mayer 0.10
Growth since 2010+5.5 pts
Mayer has grown faster since 2010
Mayer +40.3%Cologne +34.8%
Property tax bill+20%
Tax bills are bigger in Cologne
Cologne $4,318Mayer $3,603
★ 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.

Mayer$2,400/mo
Typical home $392K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.05% · or rent about $1,563/mo · Housing →
Cologne$2,470/mo
Typical home $400K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.13% · or rent about $585/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $900 a year, between Cologne and Mayer.

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
B+MayerBetter than 68% of districts in the state B+CologneBetter than 72% of districts in the state
Health
A−MayerHealthier than 82% of U.S. towns ACologneHealthier than 86% of U.S. towns
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
MayerCologne
Snow a year52″52″
January low4°F4°F
July high83°F83°F
Growing season (days)151d151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)48th32nd
Outdoors & history
MayerCologne
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land0%0%
National Register places—3
Archive photos29
Famous people born here2—
Community
MayerCologne
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

10 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MayerCologneMayerCologne
Mayer ↔ Cologne9.6 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.

MayerCologne
People
Population 2,518Highest 2,282Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +40.3%Highest MN: +7.6% +34.8%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 34.1±1.2Lowest 12% below MN 37.1±2.5Highest 4% below MN
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±4Highest MN: 22.9% 27.3%±4.9Lowest MN: 22.9%
Mayer and Cologne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 7.2%±2.1Lowest MN: 17.3% 7.9%±1.4Highest MN: 17.3%
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 36.4%Lowest MN: 39.4% 42.1%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.8%±1.7Highest MN: 5.8% 0.8%±0.5Lowest MN: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $124,917±$6kLowest 40% above MN $129,398±$13kHighest 45% above MN
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $342,700±$8kLowest 4% above MN $383,600±$36kHighest 16% above MN
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,563±$667Highest 22% above MN $585±$494Lowest 54% below MN
Mayer and Cologne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,603Lowest 7% above MN $4,318Highest 29% above MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.5%±62.9Lowest MN: 48.1% 70.4%±38.4Highest MN: 48.1%
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.8%Lowest MN: 9.3% 5.2%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.5%Highest MN: 72.2% 90.8%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 2007Highest 28 yrs newer than MN 2004Lowest 25 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 22% above MN 27 minLowest 18% above MN
Work from home 15.2%±3.6Lowest MN: 17.6% 32.8%±16.1Highest MN: 17.6%
Cologne and Mayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Lowest 5.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miHighest 18.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.10Lowest 0.41Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Waconia (10%)Eden Prairie (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CologneFew work in Mayer
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 1.9 miLowest 2.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.4 miHighest 1.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 6Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 64.7Highest 55.8Lowest
Schools
School district —COLOGNE ACADEMY
High school in town —None in town
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.

Mayer neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mayer’s Town Square.

Cologne neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cologne’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Mayer and Cologne

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

Bordering Mayer

W
+ Compare
Watertown Township988 people · $485K homes
C
+ Compare
Camden Township984 people · $456K homes
W
+ Compare
Waconia Township1,168 people · $623K homes
H
+ Compare
Hollywood Township992 people · $454K homes

Towns like Mayer

E
+ Compare
Empire3,092 people · $470K homes
+ Compare
Dundas1,916 people · $326K homes
+ Compare
St. Bonifacius1,997 people · $356K homes
S
+ Compare
St. Augusta3,625 people · $388K 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.

Post to Mayer

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in