Best overall
Stevens County
Overall score 82
Economy 77.3 / Affordability 71.9
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Minnesota
Compare counties in Minnesota by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 87 Minnesota counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Minnesota
Put Minnesota counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Minnesota rankings
Open the full Minnesota ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Minnesota county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Stevens County
Family score 89.0
Schools 97.3 / Safety 95.6
Best value
Pipestone County
Value score 79.0
Affordability 78.1 / Taxes 69.4
Most affordable
Cottonwood County
Affordability 87
Typical home $160,480
Best schools
Carver County
Schools 99
Safety 92.9 / Economy 85.8
Safest
Martin County
Safety 99.3
Schools 69.8 / Peace 95
Low taxes
Clearwater County
Taxes 72.5
Affordability 56.7 / Typical home $246,480
Peace & quiet
Stevens County
Peace & Quiet 98
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Stevens County
Typical home $209,675
82
Overall
- 2Lac qui Parle County
Typical home $215,844
80
Overall
- 3Waseca County
Typical home $249,600
78.9
Overall
- 4Rock County
Typical home $265,356
78.8
Overall
- 5Traverse County
Typical home $147,483
78.7
Overall
Best counties for families in Minnesota
View full- 1Stevens County
Typical home $209,675
89.0
Family
- 2Murray County
Typical home $243,556
86.7
Family
- 3Roseau County
Typical home $218,852
86.6
Family
- 4Lac qui Parle County
Typical home $215,844
86.3
Family
- 5Waseca County
Typical home $249,600
85.9
Family
Best value counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Pipestone County
Typical home $193,590
79.0
Value
- 2Lac qui Parle County
Typical home $215,844
77.1
Value
- 3Faribault County
Typical home $158,994
76.7
Value
- 4Yellow Medicine County
Typical home $169,366
76.5
Value
- 5Jackson County
Typical home $221,300
76.1
Value
Most affordable counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Cottonwood County
Typical home $160,480
87
Afford.
- 2Yellow Medicine County
Typical home $169,366
86.7
Afford.
- 3Kittson County
Typical home $166,136
83.7
Afford.
- 4Koochiching County
Typical home $154,275
83.5
Afford.
- 5Faribault County
Typical home $158,994
83.3
Afford.
Best school counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Carver County
Typical home $483,656
99
Schools
- 2Douglas County
Typical home $337,107
98.7
Schools
- 3Nicollet County
Typical home $310,840
98.6
Schools
- 4Washington County
Typical home $440,692
98.6
Schools
- 5Scott County
Typical home $441,654
98.4
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Clearwater County
Typical home $246,480
72.5
Taxes
- 2Cass County
Typical home $334,055
72.5
Taxes
- 3Aitkin County
Typical home $268,116
70.7
Taxes
- 4Pipestone County
Typical home $193,590
69.4
Taxes
- 5Murray County
Typical home $243,556
68.9
Taxes
Quietest counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Stevens County
Typical home $209,675
98
Quiet
- 2Pennington County
Typical home $190,508
96.8
Quiet
- 3Pipestone County
Typical home $193,590
96.4
Quiet
- 4Cottonwood County
Typical home $160,480
96.3
Quiet
- 5Brown County
Typical home $241,191
96.3
Quiet
Safest counties in Minnesota
View full- 1Martin County
Typical home $214,071
99.3
Safety
- 2Sibley County
Typical home $282,130
99.1
Safety
- 3Chippewa County
Typical home $220,853
98.9
Safety
- 4Murray County
Typical home $243,556
98.2
Safety
- 5Winona County
Typical home $273,188
97.9
Safety
Popular Minnesota county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Minnesota
The best county in Minnesota depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Minnesota
For best overall counties in Minnesota, Stevens County, Lac qui Parle County, and Waseca County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Minnesota
For families, Stevens County, Murray County, and Roseau County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Minnesota
For affordability-focused movers, Cottonwood County, Yellow Medicine County, and Kittson County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Minnesota
For school-first households, Carver County, Douglas County, and Nicollet County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Minnesota
For lower tax-pressure searches, Clearwater County, Cass County, and Aitkin County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Minnesota
For quieter-living searches, Stevens County, Pennington County, and Pipestone County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Minnesota
Compare county scale carefully in Minnesota; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Minnesota
What is the best county to live in Minnesota?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Stevens County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Minnesota for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Stevens County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Minnesota?
Cottonwood County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Minnesota counties score well for schools or taxes?
Carver County currently leads the school-score view, while Clearwater County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Minnesota counties
Showing all 87 Minnesota counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens County FIPS 27149 | 82 | 77.3 | 71.9 | 97.3 | 95.6 | 59.7 | 98 | $209,675 | $75,733 |
| 2 | Lac qui Parle County FIPS 27073 | 80 | 71.5 | 73.8 | 88.7 | 97 | 66.8 | 93.3 | $215,844 | $74,432 |
| 3 | Waseca County FIPS 27161 | 78.9 | 77.2 | 72.4 | 93.2 | 95.3 | 40 | 91.4 | $249,600 | $76,261 |
| 4 | Rock County FIPS 27133 | 78.8 | 79.3 | 63 | 95.1 | 84.4 | 67.8 | 95.3 | $265,356 | $71,295 |
| 5 | Traverse County FIPS 27155 | 78.7 | 75.4 | 78.8 | 90.8 | 76 | 62.6 | 86.3 | $147,483 | $62,989 |
| 6 | Redwood County FIPS 27127 | 78.5 | 75 | 78.9 | 78.3 | 95 | 53.8 | 94.1 | $178,762 | $67,866 |
| 7 | Wabasha County FIPS 27157 | 77.9 | 77.9 | 62.1 | 96.9 | 96.6 | 46.5 | 87.6 | $307,048 | $82,007 |
| 8 | Wright County FIPS 27171 | 77.8 | 83.9 | 62.7 | 98.3 | 87.4 | 47.1 | 72.4 | $388,429 | $107,209 |
| 9 | Faribault County FIPS 27043 | 77.7 | 68.7 | 83.3 | 78.6 | 90.5 | 57.8 | 91.8 | $158,994 | $66,815 |
| 10 | Murray County FIPS 27101 | 77.7 | 63.7 | 66.7 | 95 | 98.2 | 68.9 | 88.9 | $243,556 | $74,033 |
| 11 | Roseau County FIPS 27135 | 77.5 | 62.1 | 75.2 | 92.6 | 95.1 | 56.7 | 94.4 | $218,852 | $74,474 |
| 12 | Big Stone County FIPS 27011 | 77.3 | 66.3 | 71.4 | 90 | 96.5 | 60.8 | 85.9 | $193,279 | $70,400 |
| 13 | Lincoln County FIPS 27081 | 77.3 | 63.5 | 74.3 | 94.8 | 91.3 | 58.4 | 87.5 | $198,583 | $69,694 |
| 14 | Fillmore County FIPS 27045 | 77 | 70.8 | 66.2 | 91.6 | 94.6 | 58.5 | 88.1 | $280,107 | $77,512 |
| 15 | Carver County FIPS 27019 | 76.9 | 85.8 | 55 | 99 | 92.9 | 44.4 | 69.8 | $483,656 | $125,946 |
| 16 | Kittson County FIPS 27069 | 76.7 | 56 | 83.7 | 95.1 | 79.1 | 64.3 | 89.8 | $166,136 | $76,100 |
| 17 | Sherburne County FIPS 27141 | 76.1 | 79.3 | 62.5 | 93.3 | 92.3 | 45.6 | 71.6 | $383,718 | $105,466 |
| 18 | Dodge County FIPS 27039 | 76 | 76 | 67.9 | 87.8 | 91.8 | 42.9 | 88.7 | $322,431 | $95,739 |
| 19 | Houston County FIPS 27055 | 76 | 78.1 | 59.9 | 88.7 | 96.5 | 48 | 90.2 | $317,202 | $79,825 |
| 20 | Cottonwood County FIPS 27033 | 75.9 | 56.4 | 87 | 82.7 | 96.5 | 42.4 | 96.3 | $160,480 | $72,941 |
| 21 | Jackson County FIPS 27063 | 75.8 | 68.4 | 74.2 | 74.5 | 92.2 | 66.6 | 94.2 | $221,300 | $75,743 |
| 22 | Brown County FIPS 27015 | 75.5 | 66 | 66.8 | 87.7 | 97 | 53.9 | 96.3 | $241,191 | $69,378 |
| 23 | Lyon County FIPS 27083 | 75.4 | 66.9 | 72.8 | 83.3 | 96.8 | 45.8 | 95.2 | $214,038 | $75,303 |
| 24 | Chisago County FIPS 27025 | 75.3 | 76.4 | 60.3 | 94.4 | 96 | 39.8 | 77.1 | $378,343 | $99,400 |
| 25 | Nicollet County FIPS 27103 | 75.3 | 72.6 | 57.4 | 98.6 | 95.5 | 40.6 | 93.9 | $310,840 | $79,756 |
| 26 | Scott County FIPS 27139 | 75.2 | 89 | 59.4 | 98.4 | 73.6 | 43.2 | 61.7 | $441,654 | $119,314 |
| 27 | Yellow Medicine County FIPS 27173 | 75.2 | 66.4 | 86.7 | 65.4 | 93.5 | 51.6 | 92.8 | $169,366 | $74,000 |
| 28 | McLeod County FIPS 27085 | 75.1 | 68.4 | 64 | 94.7 | 95.4 | 42.5 | 89 | $291,893 | $80,084 |
| 29 | Pipestone County FIPS 27117 | 74.8 | 73.5 | 78.1 | 57.7 | 90.7 | 69.4 | 96.4 | $193,590 | $69,628 |
| 30 | Red Lake County FIPS 27125 | 74.5 | 62.5 | 77.9 | 78.1 | 88 | 60.6 | 89.4 | $211,300 | $77,188 |
| 31 | Chippewa County FIPS 27023 | 74.4 | 60.1 | 69.6 | 82.5 | 98.9 | 58.5 | 95.4 | $220,853 | $71,458 |
| 32 | Goodhue County FIPS 27049 | 74.2 | 71.1 | 60.4 | 92 | 93.5 | 44.4 | 88.3 | $322,013 | $84,171 |
| 33 | Pennington County FIPS 27113 | 74.1 | 56.5 | 83.2 | 86.8 | 93.2 | 29.7 | 96.8 | $190,508 | $77,325 |
| 34 | Swift County FIPS 27151 | 74 | 64 | 70.4 | 76.3 | 95.8 | 61 | 92.6 | $188,707 | $60,412 |
| 35 | Norman County FIPS 27107 | 73.8 | 56.6 | 81 | 87.2 | 77 | 60.2 | 88.4 | $172,481 | $72,260 |
| 36 | Freeborn County FIPS 27047 | 73.7 | 66.5 | 79.3 | 69.3 | 94.2 | 46.4 | 91.9 | $191,496 | $71,023 |
| 37 | Isanti County FIPS 27059 | 73.7 | 67.8 | 62.4 | 94.2 | 91.9 | 45.1 | 81 | $334,413 | $87,440 |
| 38 | Meeker County FIPS 27093 | 73.7 | 64.7 | 59.6 | 93.2 | 94.8 | 54.8 | 86.2 | $286,407 | $75,446 |
| 39 | Renville County FIPS 27129 | 73.6 | 62 | 77.9 | 75.4 | 91 | 53.1 | 91.3 | $189,697 | $70,625 |
| 40 | Douglas County FIPS 27041 | 73.5 | 74.2 | 48.7 | 98.7 | 90.9 | 52 | 84 | $337,107 | $79,043 |
| 41 | Grant County FIPS 27051 | 73.4 | 58.6 | 67.6 | 85.5 | 97.5 | 58.3 | 86 | $229,859 | $73,917 |
| 42 | Clay County FIPS 27027 | 73 | 72.1 | 60.1 | 84 | 97.6 | 39.2 | 92.3 | $294,253 | $81,172 |
| 43 | Marshall County FIPS 27089 | 73 | 45.8 | 76.1 | 87.4 | 91.8 | 68.4 | 89.6 | $207,228 | $72,543 |
| 44 | Steele County FIPS 27147 | 73 | 69.4 | 67 | 81.2 | 93.7 | 40.7 | 90.9 | $292,374 | $84,196 |
| 45 | Pope County FIPS 27121 | 72.6 | 66.8 | 50.1 | 96.3 | 88.6 | 65.7 | 85 | $328,244 | $76,220 |
| 46 | Wilkin County FIPS 27167 | 72.6 | 60.3 | 72.6 | 68.8 | 96.1 | 66.1 | 91.8 | $216,759 | $71,410 |
| 47 | Blue Earth County FIPS 27013 | 72.5 | 69.3 | 51.7 | 93.3 | 95.2 | 47.8 | 91.1 | $300,117 | $74,477 |
| 48 | Carlton County FIPS 27017 | 72.4 | 63.2 | 62.5 | 92.9 | 91.6 | 42.3 | 89.4 | $292,856 | $80,573 |
| 49 | Washington County FIPS 27163 | 71.7 | 84.8 | 56.9 | 98.6 | 67.7 | 43.5 | 41.3 | $440,692 | $115,345 |
| 50 | Koochiching County FIPS 27071 | 71.5 | 50.4 | 83.5 | 66.3 | 92.1 | 63.6 | 91.7 | $154,275 | $66,940 |
| 51 | Dakota County FIPS 27037 | 71.3 | 84 | 58.1 | 96.5 | 68.7 | 43.7 | 36.9 | $395,252 | $106,318 |
| 52 | Winona County FIPS 27169 | 71.2 | 67.1 | 58.5 | 76.1 | 97.9 | 53.4 | 91.6 | $273,188 | $70,744 |
| 53 | Sibley County FIPS 27143 | 71.1 | 73.3 | 63.5 | 64.6 | 99.1 | 47.4 | 87.4 | $282,130 | $77,634 |
| 54 | Rice County FIPS 27131 | 71 | 73.9 | 54.4 | 79.9 | 95.3 | 44.6 | 84.3 | $344,690 | $83,181 |
| 55 | Lake County FIPS 27075 | 70.7 | 60.5 | 58.3 | 79.5 | 97.8 | 64.8 | 79.2 | $272,294 | $75,541 |
| 56 | Martin County FIPS 27091 | 70.7 | 63 | 62.9 | 69.8 | 99.3 | 55.8 | 95 | $214,071 | $59,507 |
| 57 | Olmsted County FIPS 27109 | 70.5 | 84.1 | 58.6 | 93.4 | 54.5 | 39.7 | 79.1 | $347,633 | $95,406 |
| 58 | Otter Tail County FIPS 27111 | 69.7 | 65.5 | 43.8 | 91.9 | 91.8 | 61.6 | 81.5 | $323,150 | $72,255 |
| 59 | Benton County FIPS 27009 | 69.1 | 60.8 | 53.8 | 88.3 | 91.7 | 47.2 | 86.8 | $303,855 | $74,410 |
| 60 | Polk County FIPS 27119 | 68.8 | 58.6 | 63.4 | 84.1 | 80.6 | 47.9 | 91.4 | $244,862 | $73,107 |
| 61 | Mower County FIPS 27099 | 68.7 | 69 | 78.7 | 39.6 | 96.2 | 48.6 | 90.7 | $199,052 | $73,074 |
| 62 | Kandiyohi County FIPS 27067 | 68.4 | 70 | 61.1 | 63.9 | 90.2 | 47.5 | 90.5 | $275,544 | $76,592 |
| 63 | Le Sueur County FIPS 27079 | 68.3 | 65.8 | 60.5 | 67.4 | 97.6 | 43.2 | 85.7 | $351,273 | $94,968 |
| 64 | Crow Wing County FIPS 27035 | 68 | 64.1 | 35.4 | 94.8 | 94.5 | 61 | 77.1 | $362,465 | $72,589 |
| 65 | Wadena County FIPS 27159 | 67.9 | 53.9 | 62.5 | 74.6 | 93.5 | 53.9 | 89.7 | $223,829 | $61,467 |
| 66 | Anoka County FIPS 27003 | 66.9 | 77.9 | 62.5 | 94.5 | 43.9 | 48.5 | 29.1 | $367,949 | $101,869 |
| 67 | Becker County FIPS 27005 | 66.2 | 63.6 | 38.2 | 85.9 | 86.2 | 65.3 | 82.6 | $347,852 | $71,388 |
| 68 | Watonwan County FIPS 27165 | 66 | 60.7 | 82.3 | 38.6 | 88.3 | 48.4 | 88.3 | $171,372 | $71,699 |
| 69 | Lake of the Woods County FIPS 27077 | 65.5 | 59.8 | 68.1 | 50.1 | 82.4 | 68.8 | 85 | $227,172 | $77,546 |
| 70 | Morrison County FIPS 27097 | 65 | 53.4 | 53.2 | 73.3 | 92.1 | 56.6 | 84 | $303,389 | $69,446 |
| 71 | Kanabec County FIPS 27065 | 64.7 | 42.9 | 62.7 | 88.2 | 83.5 | 42.2 | 78.3 | $265,306 | $71,460 |
| 72 | Itasca County FIPS 27061 | 64.1 | 44.7 | 63.1 | 76.2 | 82.6 | 54.6 | 81.6 | $241,942 | $68,603 |
| 73 | Stearns County FIPS 27145 | 63.7 | 71 | 53.5 | 87 | 41.5 | 47 | 85.3 | $312,502 | $77,066 |
| 74 | Nobles County FIPS 27105 | 63.2 | 70 | 64 | 26.9 | 96.1 | 52.5 | 93 | $235,209 | $66,101 |
| 75 | St. Louis County FIPS 27137 | 60.6 | 59.4 | 60.9 | 81.2 | 34.5 | 46.3 | 89 | $244,298 | $70,069 |
| 76 | Todd County FIPS 27153 | 60 | 61.1 | 60.2 | 43.8 | 74.3 | 56 | 82.6 | $259,272 | $67,662 |
| 77 | Beltrami County FIPS 27007 | 59.1 | 56.3 | 57.4 | 50.6 | 75.2 | 47.8 | 89.1 | $261,029 | $68,975 |
| 78 | Mille Lacs County FIPS 27095 | 58.7 | 54.5 | 52.3 | 63.8 | 71.7 | 45.9 | 77.8 | $306,036 | $72,729 |
| 79 | Hubbard County FIPS 27057 | 58.1 | 48.3 | 46.8 | 61.9 | 82.2 | 57.5 | 77.5 | $312,005 | $71,995 |
| 80 | Ramsey County FIPS 27123 | 57 | 69.8 | 50.1 | 45.8 | 94.4 | 25.2 | 23.7 | $336,494 | $81,568 |
| 81 | Hennepin County FIPS 27053 | 56.7 | 78.5 | 50.3 | 84.8 | 23.7 | 27.9 | 23.3 | $387,852 | $97,653 |
| 82 | Aitkin County FIPS 27001 | 56.6 | 44.4 | 48.1 | 58.5 | 72.5 | 70.7 | 75.8 | $268,116 | $60,833 |
| 83 | Clearwater County FIPS 27029 | 53.4 | 35.7 | 56.7 | 31.6 | 84.3 | 72.5 | 82 | $246,480 | $64,475 |
| 84 | Cook County FIPS 27031 | 52.7 | 60.4 | 20.8 | 51 | 76.4 | 64.9 | 84.6 | $423,366 | $72,638 |
| 85 | Pine County FIPS 27115 | 52.6 | 46.2 | 61.2 | 49 | 45.8 | 53.6 | 74.8 | $253,269 | $71,146 |
| 86 | Mahnomen County FIPS 27087 | 52.5 | 49.2 | 68.8 | 9.8 | 75.2 | 54.6 | 85.8 | $179,668 | $59,441 |
| 87 | Cass County FIPS 27021 | 49.1 | 50.9 | 39.1 | 28.6 | 65.2 | 72.5 | 77.3 | $334,055 | $68,874 |