RANK #456 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 18 MN · POP 100,560
1YR FORECAST: +0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
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 +2.4% 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: 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Sherburne County scores 54/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#456). Median household income is $105,466 and job growth is running at +1.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
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 +1.7% clip. Home values shifted +2.4% 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.