Plainview is a city in Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,483 at the 2020 census, up from 3,340 at the 2010 census. The author Jon Hassler was raised in Plainview and some of the places in his writing are based on the town.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Plainview ranks

All →

#5Highest graduation rate in MN #16Safest in MN #30Cheapest rent in MN All MN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code55964

Area code507

Living in Plainview

Housing in Plainview

$260K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $260,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Plainview

Safety Grade A

Plainview reports less crime per resident than 91% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Plainview 0.6

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Plainview 1.1

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Plainview

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Plainview for work: only 18% work in town. The top destinations are Rochester (45%), Plainview (3%) and Lake City (2%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Rochester

45%

Plainview

Lake City

Wabasha

18%Work in townlive and work in Plainview 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 995Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Plainview →

Health in Plainview

Health Grade B

Healthier than 56% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Minnesota

1worse than MN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.8%More older adults who have lost all their teethMN 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

St. Elizabeth Medical CenterWabasha · 16.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. - RochesterRochester · 16.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Plainview · CMS · HRSAHealth in Plainview →

Natural hazards in Plainview

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 20% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Plainview flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Plainview

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Plainview →

Climate in Plainview

Full climate →

Plainview has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

27° / 10°Winter

55° / 34°Spring

79° / 58°Summer

57° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Plainview get?About 45 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 2, with the last in spring around May 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Plainview →

Schools in Plainview

All Plainview schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Plainview’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 89% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#62Best public schoolsof 230 in MN

DistrictPlainview-Elgin-MillvilleSchools3

Plainview-Elgin-Millville PK-3 AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 441 students Immanuel Lutheran SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 75 students Plainview-Elgin-Millville High B-High · Grades 9–12 · 414 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.