Best counties to raise a family in Minnesota
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Minnesota using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Crow Wing County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 67,113
– Median household income: $71,343
– Median home value: $274,400
– Top places to live: Irondale Township (B+), Deerwood Township (B), Baxter (B)
#24. Benton County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 41,458
– Median household income: $71,480
– Median home value: $247,100
– Top places to live: Sauk Rapids (B), Watab Township (B-), Minden Township (C+)
#23. Nobles County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 22,067
– Median household income: $65,509
– Median home value: $179,200
– Top places to live: Worthington (B), Adrian (A-), Bigelow Township (B+)
#22. Cottonwood County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C+)
– Population: 11,458
– Median household income: $68,239
– Median home value: $154,000
– Top places to live: Windom (B), Mountain Lake Township (B+), Ann Township (B+)
#21. Sherburne County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 99,178
– Median household income: $102,965
– Median home value: $332,700
– Top places to live: Elk River (B+), Becker (B), Big Lake (B)
#20. Dodge County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 20,962
– Median household income: $92,943
– Median home value: $267,500
– Top places to live: Kasson (B+), Mantorville (B+), Mantorville Township (B)
#19. Stearns County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 159,358
– Median household income: $76,447
– Median home value: $256,500
– Top places to live: Lake George (A-), Sartell (A-), Colonial Gardens (A-)
#18. Steele County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 37,413
– Median household income: $83,448
– Median home value: $234,200
– Top places to live: Owatonna (B+), Blooming Prairie (B+), Medford Township (B)
#17. Stevens County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 9,686
– Median household income: $71,060
– Median home value: $180,800
– Top places to live: Morris (A-), Rendsville Township (B+), Swan Lake Township (B+)
#16. Beltrami County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (C+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 46,421
– Median household income: $67,257
– Median home value: $222,300
– Top places to live: Northern Township (A), Bemidji Township (A-), Bemidji (B+)
#15. Blue Earth County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 69,386
– Median household income: $72,623
– Median home value: $252,800
– Top places to live: Mankato (B+), Eagle Lake (B+), South Bend Township (B+)
#14. Rock County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 9,628
– Median household income: $70,698
– Median home value: $201,600
– Top places to live: Luverne (A-), Hardwick (A-), Beaver Creek Township (B+)
#13. Lyon County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 25,498
– Median household income: $72,761
– Median home value: $193,100
– Top places to live: Marshall (B+), Lake Marshall Township (B+), Minneota (B+)
#12. Nicollet County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 34,350
– Median household income: $80,362
– Median home value: $258,500
– Top places to live: North Mankato (A), St. Peter (A-), Belgrade Township (B)
#11. Cook County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 5,633
– Median household income: $71,643
– Median home value: $294,000
– Top places to live: Grand Marais (A-), Lutsen (A-), Lutsen Township (B+)
#10. Clay County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 65,628
– Median household income: $77,664
– Median home value: $256,000
– Top places to live: Moorhead (A-), Dilworth (B), Barnesville (B+)
#9. Anoka County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 367,095
– Median household income: $98,764
– Median home value: $325,800
– Top places to live: Blaine (A-), Circle Pines (A-), Lino Lakes (A-)
#8. Wright County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 145,270
– Median household income: $106,666
– Median home value: $332,800
– Top places to live: Delano (A), St. Michael (A-), Albertville (A-)
#7. Olmsted County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 163,425
– Median household income: $93,494
– Median home value: $304,500
– Top places to live: Cascade Township (A), Haverhill Township (A), Rochester (A)
#6. Carver County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 108,622
– Median household income: $123,144
– Median home value: $426,900
– Top places to live: Chanhassen (A+), Victoria (A), Carver (A)
#5. Scott County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 152,957
– Median household income: $120,247
– Median home value: $393,500
– Top places to live: Savage (A), Prior Lake (A), Shakopee (A-)
#4. Dakota County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 442,204
– Median household income: $105,212
– Median home value: $362,100
– Top places to live: Mendota Heights (A+), Eagan (A+), Lakeville (A)
#3. Ramsey County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 544,438
– Median household income: $81,004
– Median home value: $304,900
– Top places to live: Falcon Heights (A+), Lauderdale (A+), Macalester-Groveland (A+)
#2. Washington County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 272,298
– Median household income: $114,457
– Median home value: $400,900
– Top places to live: Woodbury (A+), West Lakeland Township (A), Dellwood (A)
#1. Hennepin County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 1,268,903
– Median household income: $96,339
– Median home value: $376,500
– Top places to live: Eden Prairie (A+), King Field (A+), Medina (A+)