Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Minnesota a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Minnesota.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the North Star State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Minnesota, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 87 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Minnesota For 2024
Carver County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Minnesota. And you should avoid Mahnomen County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Minnesota. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Minnesota and the cheapest places to live in Minnesota.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Minnesota For 2024
1. Carver County
Biggest Place: Chaska
Population: 107,216
Median Income: $116,308 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $451,226 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (32nd best)
More on Carver County: Data
2. Washington County
Biggest Place: Woodbury
Population: 268,651
Median Income: $110,828 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $419,331 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0% (25th best)
More on Washington County: Data
3. Wright County
Biggest Place: Otsego
Population: 142,543
Median Income: $102,980 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $364,095 (8th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2% (12th best)
More on Wright County: Data
4. Scott County
Biggest Place: Shakopee
Population: 151,347
Median Income: $118,268 (best)
Median Home Price: $419,309 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (34th best)
More on Scott County: Data
5. Sherburne County
Biggest Place: St. Cloud
Population: 97,820
Median Income: $99,431 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $369,025 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0% (26th best)
More on Sherburne County: Data
6. Dakota County
Biggest Place: Lakeville
Population: 439,179
Median Income: $101,360 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $374,459 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (44th best)
More on Dakota County: Data
7. Chisago County
Biggest Place: North Branch
Population: 56,927
Median Income: $97,446 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $356,310 (9th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (47th best)
More on Chisago County: Data
8. Dodge County
Biggest Place: Kasson
Population: 20,893
Median Income: $92,890 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $296,336 (23rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (2best)
More on Dodge County: Data
9. Nicollet County
Biggest Place: Mankato
Population: 34,380
Median Income: $79,113 (15th best)
Median Home Price: $289,342 (25th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9% (6th best)
More on Nicollet County: Data
10. Douglas County
Biggest Place: Alexandria
Population: 39,081
Median Income: $72,472 (3best)
Median Home Price: $319,332 (17th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (28th best)
More on Douglas County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Minnesota county is the best?
To give you the best county in Minnesota, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Minnesota across each of the criteria from one to 87, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Minnesota.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the North Star State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best counties to live in Minnesota.
Read on to see why Carver County is the best county, while Mahnomen County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Minnesota.
Summary: The Best Counties In Minnesota To Call Home For 2024
Living in Minnesota can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Minnesota are Carver County, Washington County, Wright County, Scott County, Sherburne County, Dakota County, Chisago County, Dodge County, Nicollet County, and Douglas County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Minnesota according to the data:
- Mahnomen County
- Watonwan County
- Clearwater County
For more Minnesota reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In Minnesota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Minnesota
- Best Counties To Live In Minnesota
- Safest Places In Minnesota
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Minnesota
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carver County | 107,216 | $116,308 | $451,226 |
| 2 | Washington County | 268,651 | $110,828 | $419,331 |
| 3 | Wright County | 142,543 | $102,980 | $364,095 |
| 4 | Scott County | 151,347 | $118,268 | $419,309 |
| 5 | Sherburne County | 97,820 | $99,431 | $369,025 |
| 6 | Dakota County | 439,179 | $101,360 | $374,459 |
| 7 | Chisago County | 56,927 | $97,446 | $356,310 |
| 8 | Dodge County | 20,893 | $92,890 | $296,336 |
| 9 | Nicollet County | 34,380 | $79,113 | $289,342 |
| 10 | Douglas County | 39,081 | $72,472 | $319,332 |
| 11 | Olmsted County | 162,307 | $90,420 | $315,781 |
| 12 | Wabasha County | 21,460 | $75,063 | $278,054 |
| 13 | Pope County | 11,312 | $71,212 | $292,925 |
| 14 | Anoka County | 363,985 | $95,782 | $346,125 |
| 15 | Cook County | 5,611 | $71,937 | $398,380 |
| 16 | Le Sueur County | 28,795 | $87,180 | $322,668 |
| 17 | Houston County | 18,826 | $71,580 | $272,320 |
| 18 | Red Lake County | 3,912 | $73,889 | $193,207 |
| 19 | Meeker County | 23,352 | $75,926 | $262,531 |
| 20 | Pennington County | 13,995 | $71,504 | $194,322 |
| 21 | Goodhue County | 47,697 | $78,338 | $309,365 |
| 22 | Hennepin County | 1,270,787 | $92,595 | $368,370 |
| 23 | Steele County | 37,396 | $79,722 | $268,228 |
| 24 | Rock County | 9,659 | $75,060 | $239,951 |
| 25 | Lac Qui Parle County | 6,736 | $66,967 | $144,107 |
| 26 | Isanti County | 41,257 | $84,063 | $319,503 |
| 27 | Waseca County | 18,953 | $71,856 | $239,299 |
| 28 | Lake County | 10,915 | $73,860 | $248,405 |
| 29 | Sibley County | 14,950 | $74,781 | $253,316 |
| 30 | Benton County | 41,300 | $70,346 | $275,755 |
| 31 | Mcleod County | 36,727 | $73,296 | $274,942 |
| 32 | Marshall County | 9,017 | $69,396 | $185,376 |
| 33 | Jackson County | 9,990 | $68,368 | $193,312 |
| 34 | Blue Earth County | 69,022 | $70,906 | $278,344 |
| 35 | Clay County | 65,307 | $75,006 | $268,239 |
| 36 | Brown County | 25,880 | $67,038 | $209,165 |
| 37 | Murray County | 8,170 | $71,500 | $203,877 |
| 38 | Lake Of The Woods County | 3,786 | $61,667 | $200,910 |
| 39 | Fillmore County | 21,251 | $73,234 | $265,374 |
| 40 | Yellow Medicine County | 9,569 | $70,605 | $150,651 |
| 41 | Traverse County | 3,345 | $63,456 | $116,381 |
| 42 | Kittson County | 4,191 | $66,000 | $121,978 |
| 43 | Big Stone County | 5,161 | $63,024 | $153,064 |
| 44 | Stearns County | 158,622 | $73,105 | $288,545 |
| 45 | Stevens County | 9,682 | $69,737 | $178,896 |
| 46 | Otter Tail County | 60,072 | $67,990 | $309,146 |
| 47 | Carlton County | 36,362 | $74,660 | $264,650 |
| 48 | Becker County | 35,202 | $68,683 | $345,090 |
| 49 | Crow Wing County | 66,558 | $65,975 | $331,916 |
| 50 | Lincoln County | 5,630 | $64,750 | $157,433 |
| 51 | Rice County | 67,152 | $78,214 | $319,711 |
| 52 | Grant County | 6,091 | $67,600 | $202,217 |
| 53 | Polk County | 31,128 | $69,540 | $225,916 |
| 54 | St. Louis County | 200,122 | $66,491 | $218,369 |
| 55 | Morrison County | 34,023 | $66,264 | $282,062 |
| 56 | Hubbard County | 21,479 | $67,197 | $308,148 |
| 57 | Kanabec County | 16,145 | $68,995 | $263,631 |
| 58 | Redwood County | 15,428 | $65,617 | $156,888 |
| 59 | Roseau County | 15,294 | $70,122 | $213,994 |
| 60 | Renville County | 14,707 | $66,313 | $176,785 |
| 61 | Ramsey County | 547,202 | $78,108 | $317,605 |
| 62 | Kandiyohi County | 43,686 | $73,285 | $250,559 |
| 63 | Wilkin County | 6,454 | $67,114 | $190,996 |
| 64 | Winona County | 49,792 | $66,162 | $247,429 |
| 65 | Lyon County | 25,352 | $68,919 | $198,932 |
| 66 | Itasca County | 45,054 | $63,962 | $225,983 |
| 67 | Mower County | 40,082 | $66,972 | $177,894 |
| 68 | Mille Lacs County | 26,680 | $68,088 | $282,947 |
| 69 | Cass County | 30,288 | $61,970 | $322,590 |
| 70 | Pipestone County | 9,380 | $68,341 | $155,564 |
| 71 | Faribault County | 13,931 | $64,000 | $137,095 |
| 72 | Swift County | 9,806 | $58,362 | $160,063 |
| 73 | Norman County | 6,457 | $65,278 | $153,591 |
| 74 | Cottonwood County | 11,481 | $63,586 | $152,474 |
| 75 | Pine County | 29,090 | $65,059 | $267,167 |
| 76 | Freeborn County | 30,857 | $65,679 | $172,529 |
| 77 | Martin County | 19,960 | $61,674 | $161,780 |
| 78 | Nobles County | 22,194 | $62,973 | $202,250 |
| 79 | Todd County | 25,277 | $63,216 | $244,960 |
| 80 | Aitkin County | 15,859 | $56,406 | $244,392 |
| 81 | Beltrami County | 46,274 | $62,173 | $244,727 |
| 82 | Chippewa County | 12,466 | $62,112 | $197,075 |
| 83 | Koochiching County | 12,072 | $59,779 | $143,693 |
| 84 | Wadena County | 14,108 | $54,747 | $200,578 |
| 85 | Clearwater County | 8,541 | $62,723 | $217,733 |
| 86 | Watonwan County | 11,205 | $65,197 | $163,292 |
| 87 | Mahnomen County | 5,389 | $52,739 | $145,020 |