1st Advantage MortgageIn Sherburne County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $105,466 a year and the typical rent is $1,127. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Sherburne County
- Work, industries and travel time in Sherburne County
- Paychecks and income spread in Sherburne County
- Renting and owning in Sherburne County
- The counties around Sherburne County
- The communities that make up Sherburne County
- A Sherburne County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Sherburne County
- Borrowing situations common in Sherburne County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Sherburne County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sherburne County's population at 100,560; only 11 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. It covers 433 square miles of land, or about 232 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area. Elk River is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 26,793 people (27% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Sherburne County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward construction (11% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.2% of the total (6.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Sherburne County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Sherburne County
The median household income in Sherburne County is $105,466; statewide it is $89,062, so Sherburne County runs 18% above Minnesota as a whole.
| Household income | Sherburne County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.2% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.6% | -3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 39.1% | +8.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.1% | +0.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 53% of Sherburne County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.1%, 4 points lower than the state's 9.3%. A household earning below the $105,466 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Sherburne County
Renters in Sherburne County pay a median of $1,127 a month, 12% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. By the Census definition, 46% of Sherburne County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $361,400, about 3.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 83% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1996.
| Cost | Sherburne County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,127/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $361,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The counties around Sherburne County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 34 miles). Income ranges from $72,729 in Mille Lacs County to $107,209 in Wright County; 1 of these neighbors top Sherburne County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherburne County | - | $105,466 | $1,127/mo | 83% |
| Benton County, MN | 20 mi | $74,410 | $982/mo | 67% |
| Wright County, MN | 21 mi | $107,209 | $1,288/mo | 84% |
| Isanti County, MN | 24 mi | $87,440 | $1,273/mo | 84% |
| Anoka County, MN | 28 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 34 mi | $72,729 | $903/mo | 78% |
| Hennepin County, MN | 34 mi | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
The communities that make up Sherburne County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Sherburne County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 56,593 residents, leaving about 44% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $62,219 in Princeton to $120,549 in Big Lake. Rent is cheapest in Becker ($889) and steepest in Zimmerman ($1,398). This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River | city | 26,793 | $108,741 | $1,283 | 13 mi |
| Big Lake | city | 12,367 | $120,549 | $1,340 | 8 mi |
| Zimmerman | city | 6,546 | $85,645 | $1,398 | 8 mi |
| Princeton | city | 5,274 | $62,219 | $991 | 12 mi |
| Becker | city | 5,034 | $86,094 | $889 | 7 mi |
| Clear Lake | city | 579 | $105,625 | $919 | 11 mi |
A Sherburne County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Sherburne County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,789 before taxes
- 13% goes to median rent ($1,127)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,949 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $3,955 total minus rent leaves $2,828
If your rent is above $1,127, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Sherburne County
30% of Sherburne County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Sherburne County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Sherburne County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Sherburne County
What the Sherburne County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 25% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Consolidation math. With 53% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Consumer lenders serving Sherburne County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sherburne County a high-income county?
Its $105,466 median ranks 6th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Sherburne County rent compare with Minnesota?
$1,127 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 12% below.
Should Sherburne County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Sherburne County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Sherburne County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Elk River, Big Lake, Zimmerman, Princeton, Becker and 1 more.
Can Sherburne County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.