Channel 6 News (Rochester MN) uses a recent report from the Center for Rural Policy and Development To talk about the cost and advantages of living in rural Minnesota…

Several local representatives agree with the benefits but say work can still be done to keep our region connected and thriving in this digital age.
The report states that an average adult would have to make $20 per hour hypothetically to live in the twin cities metro.

By taking a trip south on Interstate 35 or Highway 52, you could see that average drop to $14 per hour.
This quite possibly, making rural Minnesota a more attractive location for families.

Access to broadband is one exception…

But there’s at least one issue that many lawmakers continue to fight for in rural Minnesota.
Access to high-speed internet could give families more of the freedom to decide where they want to live and work from in a COVID-19 world.
“If there is access to high-speed broadband, I see a real rural renaissance where families choose to live in our smaller towns,” Sen. Nelson said.

I’m glad that they are aware of the issue and are prioritizing equitable access to broadband. I want to point out that while some areas in rural Minnesota don’t have adequate access, some have very good access. I mention this both to recoginze the areas that do have good access but also to point out that leaves the areas without access in gerater peril in terms of sustaining and growing their population.