RANK #330 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 18 MN · POP 100,560
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Sherburne County, Minnesota, distinguishes itself with the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and the Sand Dunes State Forest, offering extensive natural landscapes for outdoor enthusiasts. Located in central Minnesota, the county sits between the Minneapolis-St. Paul and St. Cloud metropolitan areas. Commute options include major highways like U.S. 10 and 169, providing four-lane access, and a commuter bus service (replacing the Northstar Line in January 2025) connecting towns like Elk River and Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis. The community feel varies from rural to suburban, with cities like Elk River serving as the county seat.
Life in Sherburne County often involves a balance of suburban and rural living, attracting families and individuals seeking good schools and access to natural amenities. The county is home to multiple school districts, including Independent School District 728 and Becker Public School District. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with numerous county and city parks, lakes, and trails for hiking, biking, and water sports. Economically, the county has experienced growth, with a labor force projected to expand. Local economic development efforts focus on supporting entrepreneurship and existing businesses.
Sherburne County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.5% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 21.3x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Sherburne County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 67/100, Sherburne County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.8%, and median household income stands at $105,466 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MN.
Housing in Sherburne County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $361,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,127/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Sherburne County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.8% clip. Home values shifted +2.5% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 6.23% of Sherburne County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.