Chisago County
MN · Pop. 57,434 · Mixed County
Chisago County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Minnesota, spanning 415 square miles with 57,434 residents at a density of 138.4 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, hay. The median home price is $327,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.12%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 124-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F and average winter lows of 2.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 32.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Fairview Lakes Medical Center is 13.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 91.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low poverty rate of 5.9% signals a relatively stable local economy.
- A median household income of $98,260 anchors the local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- A 124-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 2.6°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Chisago County, MN is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 17/100
- Median home price
- $327k
- Property tax
- 1.12%
- Growing season
- 124 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 32.5"
- Broadband
- 91.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Fairview Lakes Medical Center, 13.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Chisago County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Chisago County?
- Chisago County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 124-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F, and average winter lows of 2.6°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $327,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.12%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 91.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Fairview Lakes Medical Center is 13.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Minnesota Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Minnesota
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The closest counties to Chisago County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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