Ely is #1 in Minnesota for library visits
Ely is ranked on 38 lists against the 275 Minnesota towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 5 and the top quarter on 9.
Ely is on Minnesota’s podium 3 times
Each list ranks every MN town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Ely marked.
Fewer kids than 100% of Minnesota
Not better or worse, just Ely’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
Ely lands in the top half on 12 of 24 lists
Each dot is Ely’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in MN, the right end is last. Areas where Ely does best come first.
Every MN list, and where Ely lands
41 lists from Census, school, health, library, crime, climate and land data. Tap any list to see every town on it.
Cost of living
Most affordable#1 Eveleth · 1.1 yrs
#17
W
Cheapest rent#1 White · $509/mo
#3
Lowest property tax#1 Eveleth · $690/yr
#9
N
Rent easiest to afford#1 North Mankato · 30.1%
Libraries
Most-used libraries#1 Ely · 12.7 per resident
#1
Most library borrowing#1 Stillwater · 22.8 per resident
#2
Best libraries for kids#1 Ely · 65.1 per child
#1 Getting around
Shortest commute#1 International Falls · 8.6 min
#19 Outdoors
Most conserved land#1 Orrock · 63.1%
#197
Most trails#1 Two Harbors · 4.8 mi / sq mi
#21
Most walkable#1 Robbinsdale · 140 / sq mi
#30 Health
Healthiest#1 Deephaven · 100 / 100
#227
Lowest obesity#1 Edina · 23%
#138
Fewest smokers#1 Deephaven · 7%
#202
Most active#1 Deephaven · 14%
#198
Fewest uninsured#1 Deephaven · 4%
#89
Lowest depression#1 Crosslake · 20%
#118
Closest to a top hospital#1 Waconia · 0.1 mi
#273 
People
Most educated#1 Deephaven · 83.5%
#155
C
Youngest#1 Collegeville · 21.7
#268
Oldest#1 Crosslake · 61.0
#8
Most residents 65+#1 Crosslake · 40.1%
#10
Most kids#1 Lonsdale · 36%
#274 
The number on the right is Ely’s spot. All of Minnesota’s rankings, with the map → · National lists and other states: all rankings.
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every MN list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.