Best counties to live in Minnesota
Written by:
February 18, 2021
Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Minnesota
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Minnesota using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Douglas County
- Population: 37,513
- Median home value: $214,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $733 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $63,819
- Median home value: $214,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $733 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $63,819
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Sherburne County
- Population: 94,463
- Median home value: $230,500 (84% own)
- Median rent: $995 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $89,250
- Median home value: $230,500 (84% own)
- Median rent: $995 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $89,250
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Darb02 // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Mower County
- Population: 39,807
- Median home value: $123,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $716 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $54,295
- Median home value: $123,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $716 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $54,295
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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Steele County
- Population: 36,683
- Median home value: $169,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $770 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $64,903
- Median home value: $169,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $770 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $64,903
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Rice County
- Population: 66,185
- Median home value: $208,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $843 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $68,584
- Median home value: $208,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $843 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $68,584
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Beltrami County
- Population: 46,403
- Median home value: $162,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $765 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $49,160
- Median home value: $162,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $765 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $49,160
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Canva
#19. St. Louis County
- Population: 199,759
- Median home value: $157,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $770 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $55,646
- Median home value: $157,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $770 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $55,646
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Rock County
- Population: 9,402
- Median home value: $153,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $678 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,005
- Median home value: $153,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $678 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,005
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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Lyon County
- Population: 25,758
- Median home value: $148,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $666 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $57,730
- Median home value: $148,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $666 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $57,730
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Blue Earth County
- Population: 66,795
- Median home value: $184,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $883 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $57,429
- Median home value: $184,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $883 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $57,429
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Wright County
- Population: 134,438
- Median home value: $238,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $969 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $84,974
- Median home value: $238,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $969 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $84,974
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Winona County
- Population: 50,725
- Median home value: $167,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $696 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $59,329
- Median home value: $167,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $696 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $59,329
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Nicollet County
- Population: 33,954
- Median home value: $191,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $837 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $67,399
- Median home value: $191,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $837 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $67,399
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Anoka County
- Population: 350,253
- Median home value: $232,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,118 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $82,175
- Median home value: $232,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,118 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $82,175
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McGhiever // Wikicommons
#11. Stearns County
- Population: 158,452
- Median home value: $184,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $833 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $62,789
- Median home value: $184,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $833 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $62,789
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Gobonobo // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Stevens County
- Population: 9,789
- Median home value: $160,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $753 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $60,559
- Median home value: $160,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $753 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $60,559
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Clay County
- Population: 63,446
- Median home value: $197,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $865 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $65,269
- Median home value: $197,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $865 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $65,269
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Cook County
- Population: 5,376
- Median home value: $240,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $651 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $57,432
- Median home value: $240,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $651 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $57,432
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Appraiser // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Scott County
- Population: 145,275
- Median home value: $299,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,170 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $102,152
- Median home value: $299,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,170 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $102,152
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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Carver County
- Population: 101,949
- Median home value: $313,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,146 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $101,496
- Median home value: $313,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,146 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $101,496
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Iulus Ascanius // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Washington County
- Population: 255,938
- Median home value: $289,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,307 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $96,671
- Median home value: $289,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,307 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $96,671
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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Dakota County
- Population: 421,453
- Median home value: $266,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,174 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $86,036
- Median home value: $266,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,174 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $86,036
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Mulad // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Ramsey County
- Population: 544,442
- Median home value: $229,600 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,007 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $64,660
- Median home value: $229,600 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,007 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $64,660
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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Olmsted County
- Population: 154,809
- Median home value: $214,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $968 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $76,951
- Median home value: $214,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $968 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $76,951
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Checubus // Shutterstock
#1. Hennepin County
- Population: 1,245,837
- Median home value: $276,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,135 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $78,167
- Median home value: $276,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,135 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $78,167
