Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Annandale is one of the best-graded places in America: an A+, 17th among Minnesota's 271 graded towns. Homes are within reach, about $412K for a typical one, or 4.1 years of the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household income, its public schools beat 92% of Minnesota towns on state tests and graduation, and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 83% of U.S. towns. Its lowest mark, a B−, is in incomes. Annandale’s January low is 4°F, close to Minnesota’s towns (6°F) and below U.S. towns (22°F). Thayer Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Annandale's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 85% of U.S. towns.
Where Annandale beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Annandale Elementary School | PK–5 | 929 |
| Annandale Middle School | 6–8 | 466 |
| Annandale Senior High | 9–12 | 611 |
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Annandale is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 211 in 1890, 3,330 in 2020. The archive holds 14 old photos and papers going back to 1895 and 2 maps from 1951 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Annandale, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Annandale.
Annandale pairs an A for schools with modest home prices, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and trades workers with Buffalo and other neighbors.
Its A for schools comes with an A for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $412K.
Its public schools are run by the Annandale Public School District. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Annandale Senior High, with 611 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annandale Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 929 | A |
| Annandale Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 611 | B |
| Annandale Middle SchoolTop results in townGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 466 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
Annandale’s violent crime rate is 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
| Annandale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.5 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
1.7 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
| Annandale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Against the 10,035 U.S. towns with household incomes like Annandale’s, it is healthier than 87%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income. Within Minnesota it is less healthy than 62% of the 271 graded towns: Minnesota sets a high bar.
Annandale beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 29% of Annandale adults feel lonely.
| Annandale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 30% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 31% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 77% | 75% | 79% |
| What stands out | Annandale | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.2% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The Buffalo 2ne weather station, 14 miles away, records that 40 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 85% of Minnesota places with climate records.
Annandale has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Annandale is 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
84% of households own their home in Annandale. The typical Annandale home is worth about $412,000, up 3.8% in a year, 18% above the Minnesota typical home.
| Annandale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $971 a month | $1,199 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Annandale has about as many jobs (1,763) as working residents, but only 258 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 1,345 in 2013 to 1,763.
Most working residents leave Annandale for work: only 17% work in town. Since 2013, Annandale has added 418 jobs, to 1,763 in 2023. The top destinations are Buffalo (7%), Maple Lake (5%) and St.
| Annandale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 9.7% | 8% |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $91,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 7% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Annandale; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Annandale residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
City in Minnesota, United States
Annandale ( AN-ən-dayl) is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,330 at the 2020 census. Annandale has been dubbed "The Heart of the Lakes" because it has 26 lakes within a 10-mile (16 km) radius.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
2 towns share a border with Annandale.
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annandale | #17 | A+ | A | A− | A | B+ |
| Corinna Township | #134 | A− | C+ | — | A | B+ |
| Southside Township | — | — | C− | — | A | B+ |
Southside Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Corinna Township and Southside Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Annandale with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes, by almost any measure. Annandale grades A+ overall, better than 98% of U.S. towns and #17 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades B+ for health, A− for safety and A for schools.
Not for the area. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.