Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
28%
Over 65
14%
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, MN Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,550
Population
42,388
Renter Mix
13% Rent
A riverfront city with spectacular parks and easy access to St. Paul.
Twin Cities
•
Mississippi River
•
Family-Friendly
•
Outdoor Adventures
•
Scenic
•
Community
•
Suburban
•
Sitting on the north bank of the Mississippi River, Cottage Grove offers the breathing room of suburban Minnesota with a surprisingly easy commute to downtown Saint Paul, just 10 miles to the northwest. Green spaces are woven throughout the city, from the sweeping 515-acre Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park with its wooded trails and prairie landscape to the Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, where bluffs rise more than 100 feet above the river for some genuinely stunning views. Shopping and dining line major corridors, making everyday errands simple, and Highway 61 connects residents quickly to neighboring communities throughout Washington County.
The rental market here skews toward spacious, well-planned apartment communities with generous square footage, and renters can also find townhome-style options that offer extra room without the upkeep of ownership. Once a rural township known for producing Minnesota's first creamery operations and abundant wheat harvests, Cottage Grove has grown into a full-service city while holding onto its outdoorsy, laid-back character. For anyone seeking a Mississippi River setting with quick access to Twin Cities amenities, this southeast metro community makes a compelling case.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$114,682
Average: $133,092
Education
12,801
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
23,515
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Cottage Grove has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
13%
Non-Renters
87%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
27%
Other Education
73%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Cottage Grove, MN is $1,497 for a studio, $1,550 for one bedroom, $1,818 for two bedrooms, and $1,902 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cottage Grove has decreased by -3.9% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,550/month
716 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,388/month
1,612 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cottage Grove, MN is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
763 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
425 Students
Public
Grades K-5
424 Students
Public
Grades K-5
530 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
418 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
969 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
924 Students
Special Education Extended School Year
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,938 Students
So. Washington Alt Learning Center
Public
Grades 9-12
Special Education Extended School Year
Public
Grades K-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Carpenter Nature Center
- Afton Alps
- Afton State Park
- Dodge Nature Center
- Spring Lake Reserve
Military Bases
Airports
- Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain
Top Apartments in Cottage Grove
Houses for Rent in Cottage Grove
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Nearby City Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.