Affordable Storage Units in Albert Lea

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Albert Lea.

About Albert Lea, MN

You will find Albert Lea in southern Minnesota. It is in Freeborn County at the spot where I-90 crosses I-35, around 90 miles south of the Twin Cities. The population is 18,492 (2020 U.S. Census). This area is small-town USA at its best.

Historically, the town got its name from a surveyor, Albert Miller Lea, who mapped the area in 1835. He also gave his name to the large fishing lake. Maybe he was vain or ran out of ideas for new names as he surveyed the area.

This town is best known for being “The Land Between the Lakes,” with the three spectacular lakes of Albert Lea Lake, Fountain Lake, and Pickerel Lake. The Freeborn County Historical Society, established in 1948, created a museum, research library, and historical village with agricultural displays in the Red Shed and a Victorian-style home, showing how people lived in the late 1800s.

What to do in Albert Lea, MN

The best things to do in this area are outdoors, and the fishing is outstanding.

• Shopping: Forget about going to the shopping mall because it is terrible. Go to Bubba’s Bait and Tackle Shop to get your fishing gear. There are nice antique shops and quaint boutiques in the Historic Downtown area.
• Destination: Myre-Big Island State Park features grasslands, oak savanna, and wet lowlands. Big Island is in the middle of Albert Lea Lake, a 116-acre forest covered in maple and basswood trees. This island is a natural habitat for migrating waterfowl that delights bird watchers.
• Features: Fishing on the lakes in the area is a favorite pastime for the locals and tourists. Fish caught on a lucky day include bass, bullhead, carp, catfish, northern pike, panfish, walleye, and yellow perch.

Working in Albert Lea, MN

The local economy depends on health care, tourism, and hospitality_._ The unemployment rate is 4.5%, significantly lower than the national average of 6.0%. The median household income is $49,698 per year. The predicted job growth rate over the next ten years is 22.6%, which is low compared to the national average growth rate of 33.5%. The average commute time is 17 minutes because so many live in the rural areas outside of town.

The most popular industries are health care (13.2%), restaurants (11.2%), education (6.1%), hospitality (5.8%), public admin (4.0%), social assistance (3.8%), and furniture manufacturing (3.8%).

Albert Lea, MN Neighborhoods

This area has well-established neighborhoods with lovely homes and some historic properties. Lakeside homes sell for a premium; many are used or rented out as vacation homes.

The most desirable areas are these three neighborhoods:

• Bancroft/Murtaugh: This is the popular rural area that surrounds the town of Albert Lea. The median home price in this area is $231,360, much lower than the median price of a house in other parts of the USA, which is $423,600. Most homes are owner-occupied or rented out as vacation homes. Residential construction happened mostly between 1940 and 1969, with about one-third of the homes built after those dates until 1999. You will find three- and four-bedroom homes on large lots. The average rent is $1,162, with a vacancy rate of 10.8%, because so many homes are vacation rental properties.
• Albert Lea Northeast: This is the area surrounding Fountain Lake. The median home price is $218,149. This price is a modest cost when compared to other parts of Minnesota. The average rent is $1,346, with a vacancy rate of 6.5%. This low rate may make finding a nice place to rent somewhat challenging. This neighborhood is popular with retirees.
• Albert Lea North: Most of the homes in this area are older. This area is near the airport and a good one to consider if you are on a low budget. The median home price is $160,765. The average rent is $1,203, with a vacancy rate of 6.3%, making it difficult to find a place to rent.

Albert Lea, MN School District

The public school district is the Albert Lea Area Schools Administration. The district spends around $17,684 each year per student. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15 to one.

There are two private schools in the area. They are the Oakland Baptist School (Third to 10th grade) and the St. Theodore Elementary School (PK to 5th grade).

there are no colleges and universities in the area for higher education. The nearest ones are the two-year Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota, 18 miles away, and the four-year, private Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, 30 miles away.

Moving to Albert Lea, MN

This information will help you get started when moving here.

Albert Lea Public Utilities offers water and sewer service. The Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services provides electricity. Minnesota Energy Resources offers natural gas. Telephone connections are supplied by CenturyLink Communications. TV and internet connections are provided by Spectrum.

The City of Albert Lea Parks & Recreation Department manages natural and historic spaces that include more than 300 acres of public parks, recreation areas, and open green spaces.

The city officials include an elected mayor and six elected members serving on the city council.

Albert Lea, MN Housing

The median home price in this area is $154,900, trending down by 7.2% year-over-year, making it a great time to buy a home here. The super-cheap home prices, which are 44% below the national average, help keep the cost of living in this area very reasonable. The cost of living is 20% lower than other communities in the state and 17% lower than the national average.