RANK #369 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 18 MN · POP 57,991
1YR FORECAST: +1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Chisago County, Minnesota, distinguishes itself with its "Fair and Lovely Lakes," a name derived from the Ojibwe "Ki-Chi-Saga." Located northeast of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, the county offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and natural scenery, with numerous lakes and the St. Croix River Valley. Towns like Lindstrom celebrate a rich Swedish heritage, evident in landmarks such as its Swedish coffee pot-shaped water tower. Commuting to the Twin Cities is common, with an average travel time of about 31 minutes. The community values its outdoor recreation, including extensive trails for hiking and biking, water activities on its 24 lakes, and state parks like Wild River State Park.
Life in Chisago County often involves a balance between rural charm and access to urban opportunities. Many residents commute for work, though there's a growing local job market. The county's economy is diverse, with manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism playing significant roles. Recent economic developments focus on supporting local small businesses through grant and loan programs, and there's an emphasis on enhancing infrastructure, including broadband services, to attract further investment and job growth. The public school systems in Chisago County are generally well-regarded.
Chisago County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.6% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 21.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cielo Chisago Data Center
Cielo Digital Infrastructure
|
$1,500M | Planned |
|
Chisago County 115kV Substation Battery Project
Unknown
|
$200M | Planned |
|
CHISAGO COUNTY Battery Project
Unknown
|
$150M | Planned |
|
North Star Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project
North Star Energy Storage, LLC (affiliate of North Star Solar PV LLC)
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
North Star Solar Project
North Star Solar PV LLC (D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments)
|
$100M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, Chisago County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.0%, and median household income stands at $99,400 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MN.
Housing in Chisago County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $351,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,186/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Chisago County's population is growing — up +1.0% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +1.0%). Home values shifted +2.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.78% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chisago County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.