1st Advantage MortgageChisago County households have a median income of $99,400 and median rent of $1,186 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Chisago County, MN: the basics
- The Chisago County job picture
- Household income in Chisago County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Chisago County
- Towns and communities in Chisago County
- Chisago County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Chisago County median
- Who lives in Chisago County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Chisago County
- Minnesota rules that apply in Chisago County
- Checklist for Chisago County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chisago County, MN: the basics
With an estimated 57,991 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Chisago County ranks 18th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Land area is 415 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 140 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Chisago County, North Branch leads by population with about 11,565; 10 of the 10 are incorporated.
The Chisago County job picture
The biggest employer of Chisago County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward construction (12% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Chisago County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Chisago County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chisago County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Chisago County
Chisago County households have a median income of $99,400 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 8th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Household income | Chisago County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.9% | -3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 37.2% | +6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.4% | -1.4 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 50% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.0% of Chisago County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.388 here. A household earning below the $99,400 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Chisago County
Renters in Chisago County pay a median of $1,186 a month, 7% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. By the Census definition, 52% of Chisago County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $351,900, a typical Chisago County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 86%. Half the housing stock was built before 1992.
| Housing | Chisago County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,186/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $351,900 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% | 2.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Chisago County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Towns and communities in Chisago County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Chisago County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 41,988 people, so roughly 28% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,760 in Rush City to $107,565 in Wyoming. Median rent ranges from $870 in Harris to $1,611 in Center City. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch | city | 11,565 | $90,456 | $1,308 | 3 mi |
| Wyoming | city | 8,087 | $107,565 | $1,166 | 12 mi |
| Chisago City | city | 5,899 | $102,197 | $1,321 | 9 mi |
| Lindstrom | city | 4,978 | $98,226 | $1,176 | 9 mi |
| Stacy | city | 4,384 | $98,464 | $892 | 7 mi |
| Rush City | city | 3,295 | $58,760 | $983 | 13 mi |
| Shafer | city | 1,186 | $99,489 | $966 | 11 mi |
| Taylors Falls | city | 1,167 | $67,885 | $1,074 | 13 mi |
| Harris | city | 776 | $87,375 | $870 | 8 mi |
| Center City | city | 651 | $96,875 | $1,611 | 9 mi |
Chisago County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 19 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Chisago County; Washington County is highest at $115,345 and Burnett County lowest at $62,819. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Chisago County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisago County | - | $99,400 | $1,186/mo | 86% |
| Isanti County, MN | 19 mi | $87,440 | $1,273/mo | 84% |
| Polk County, WI | 22 mi | $77,219 | $957/mo | 81% |
| Anoka County, MN | 23 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Washington County, MN | 32 mi | $115,345 | $1,710/mo | 81% |
| Ramsey County, MN | 35 mi | $81,568 | $1,329/mo | 61% |
| Burnett County, WI | 36 mi | $62,819 | $771/mo | 86% |
Budget math at the Chisago County median
Chisago County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,283 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,186, takes 14% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,376 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Chisago County's.
Who lives in Chisago County, in numbers
24% of Chisago County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.3%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Measure | Chisago County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Chisago County
A few patterns in the Chisago County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 27% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Chisago County budgets.
- Consolidation math. With 50% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Minnesota rules that apply in Chisago County
Consumer lenders serving Chisago County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Chisago County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Chisago County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chisago County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chisago County?
$99,400 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 8th of 87 in the state.
Is Chisago County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,186 against $1,280 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Chisago County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: North Branch, Wyoming, Chisago City, Lindstrom, Stacy.
Are Chisago County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Chisago County residents?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce licenses consumer lenders in Minnesota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.