Best counties to raise a family in Minnesota

- Population: 65,879
- Median home value: $215,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $836 (23% own)
- Median household income: $60,810
- Top public schools: Lowell Elementary School (grade A minus), Eagle View Elementary School (grade A minus), Baxter Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Lake Region Christian School (grade B), St. Francis Catholic School (grade unavailable), Montessori School of Brainerd (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Deerwood Township (grade B), Irondale Township (grade B), Baxter (grade B)

- Population: 66,795
- Median home value: $240,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $951 (25% own)
- Median household income: $71,384
- Top public schools: Northfield Senior High School (grade A), Bridgewater Elementary School (grade A minus), Spring Creek Elementary (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Shattuck-St. Mary's School (grade A+), Bethlehem Academy (grade A minus), Divine Mercy Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Northfield (grade A), Dundas (grade B+), Bridgewater Township (grade B+)

- Population: 43,504
- Median home value: $188,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $776 (25% own)
- Median household income: $67,798
- Top public schools: Prairie Woods Elementary School (grade A minus), New London-Spicer Middle School (grade B+), Willmar Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Central Minnesota Christian School (grade B+), Community Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: New London (grade B), New London Township (grade B), Willmar (grade B)

- Population: 200,311
- Median home value: $166,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $849 (28% own)
- Median household income: $61,213
- Top public schools: Harbor City International School (grade A minus), Congdon Elementary School (grade A minus), Lester Park Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Marshall School (grade A), Lakeview Christian Academy (grade B+), Stella Maris Academy - Holy Rosary Campus (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Duluth (grade A minus), Hermantown (grade B+), Mountain Iron (grade B+)

- Population: 31,303
- Median home value: $181,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $731 (29% own)
- Median household income: $61,643
- Top public schools: Fertile-Beltrami Elementary School (grade A minus), Win-E-Mac Elementary School (grade A minus), Magelssen Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade A minus), Riverside Christian School (grade unavailable), Our Savior Lutheran Day School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Crookston (grade B), East Grand Forks (grade B), McIntosh (grade A minus)

- Population: 37,363
- Median home value: $185,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $846 (23% own)
- Median household income: $73,468
- Top public schools: Blooming Prairie Secondary School (grade B), Owatonna Senior High School (grade B), Washington Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Owatonna Christian School (grade A minus), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable), Owatonna Montessori Children's House (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Owatonna (grade B+), Blooming Prairie (grade B+), Clinton Falls Township (grade B)

- Population: 47,503
- Median home value: $224,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $846 (24% own)
- Median household income: $71,414
- Top public schools: Pine Island Middle School (grade B+), Pine Island Secondary School (grade B+), Zumbrota-Mazeppa Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. John's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. John's Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Christ Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pine Island (grade B+), Zumbrota (grade B+), Cannon Falls (grade B+)

- Population: 20,798
- Median home value: $216,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $750 (14% own)
- Median household income: $84,568
- Top public schools: Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School (grade B), Kasson-Mantorville Middle School (grade B), Triton High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Maranatha Adventist School (grade unavailable), Grace Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Kasson (grade B+), Dodge Center (grade B), Mantorville Township (grade B)

- Population: 96,295
- Median home value: $264,500 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,055 (16% own)
- Median household income: $92,374
- Top public schools: Twin Lakes Elementary School (grade A minus), Parker Elementary School (grade A minus), Salk Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew Catholic School (grade unavailable), Heritage Montessori School (grade unavailable), JUBILEE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Elk River (grade B+), Becker (grade B), Livonia Township (grade B)

- Population: 41,087
- Median home value: $199,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $822 (34% own)
- Median household income: $65,529
- Top public schools: Foley Intermediate Elementary School (grade B+), Foley Elementary School (grade B+), Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Cloud Christian School (grade A minus), St. Katharine Drexel School (grade unavailable), St. Johns Area School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sauk Rapids (grade B+), Minden Township (grade B minus), Watab Township (grade B minus)

- Population: 5,574
- Median home value: $261,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $792 (20% own)
- Median household income: $65,045
- Top public schools: Cook County Senior High School (grade B), Great Expectations School (grade B), Sawtooth Mountain Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Grand Marais (grade A minus), Lutsen Township (grade A minus), Lutsen (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

- Population: 11,484
- Median home value: $117,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $693 (22% own)
- Median household income: $56,297
- Top public schools: Westbrook-Walnut Grove Secondary School (grade B+), Mountain Lake Secondary School (grade B), Mountain Lake Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Mountain Lake Christian School (grade B), Elmendorf Christian School (grade unavailable), Neuhof School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Windom (grade B), Mountain Lake Township (grade A minus), Germantown Township (grade B+)

- Population: 36,145
- Median home value: $187,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $848 (20% own)
- Median household income: $68,579
- Top public schools: Churchill Elementary School (grade A), Washington Elementary School (grade A), Winterquist Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Queen of Peace School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Thomson Township (grade A minus), Esko (grade B+), Cloquet (grade B+)

- Population: 9,718
- Median home value: $165,900 (78% own)
- Median rent: $651 (22% own)
- Median household income: $68,638
- Top public schools: Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School (grade A minus), Luverne Elementary School (grade B+), Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Hills Christian School (grade unavailable), South Western Youth Services (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Luverne (grade A minus), Hardwick (grade B+), Martin Township (grade B+)

- Population: 68,575
- Median home value: $203,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $954 (37% own)
- Median household income: $65,000
- Top public schools: Franklin Elementary School (grade A), Mankato West Senior High School (grade A), Jefferson Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Loyola Catholic School (grade A minus), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade B minus), Mount Olive Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mankato Township (grade A minus), Mankato (grade A minus), Eagle Lake (grade B+)

- Population: 11,223
- Median home value: $106,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $650 (22% own)
- Median household income: $59,494
- Top public schools: Northside Elementary School (grade B+), Madelia Secondary School (grade B+), Madelia Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: St. James (grade B), Madelia (grade B+), Riverdale Township (grade B+)

- Population: 34,295
- Median home value: $216,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $862 (25% own)
- Median household income: $74,317
- Top public schools: Bridges Community Elementary School (grade A), Hoover Elementary School (grade A minus), Dakota Meadows Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), John Ireland School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: North Mankato (grade A), St. Peter (grade B+), Belgrade Township (grade B+)

- Population: 157,638
- Median home value: $205,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $917 (32% own)
- Median household income: $68,212
- Top public schools: Sartell Middle School (grade A), Pine Meadow Elementary School (grade A), Oak Ridge Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Preparatory School (grade A+), Cathedral Middle and High School (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Colonial Gardens (grade A minus), Le Sauk Township (grade A minus), Sartell (grade A minus)

- Population: 46,033
- Median home value: $176,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $837 (32% own)
- Median household income: $55,910
- Top public schools: Bemidji Senior High School (grade B+), Treknorth High School (grade B+), Northern Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Philip's School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's Mission School (grade unavailable), Heartland Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Northern Township (grade A+), Bemidji Township (grade A), Grant Valley Township (grade B+)

- Population: 25,477
- Median home value: $160,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $689 (32% own)
- Median household income: $62,388
- Top public schools: Marshall High School (grade A minus), Minneota Elementary School (grade A minus), Marshall Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Holy Redeemer School (grade unavailable), Marshall Area Christian School (grade unavailable), St. Edward School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Marshall (grade B+), Lake Marshall Township (grade A minus), Fairview Township (grade B+)

- Population: 64,975
- Median home value: $215,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $884 (33% own)
- Median household income: $67,984
- Top public schools: Barnesville Elementary School (grade A minus), Hawley Elementary School (grade B+), Moorhead High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Park Christian School (grade A minus), St. Joseph's School (grade unavailable), Cobber Kids - Concordia College (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Moorhead (grade B+), Dilworth (grade B), Moorhead Township (grade B+)

- Population: 139,890
- Median home value: $265,500 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (17% own)
- Median household income: $94,276
- Top public schools: Big Woods Elementary School (grade A), St. Michael Elementary School (grade A), Delano Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holy Spirit Academy (grade B), St. Michael Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Xavier Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: St. Michael (grade A), Delano (grade A minus), Otsego (grade A minus)

- Population: 360,773
- Median home value: $261,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,225 (20% own)
- Median household income: $88,680
- Top public schools: McKinley Elementary School (grade A), Andover Elementary School (grade A), Elementary Lighthouse (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Totino-Grace High School (grade A), Al-Amal School (grade A), Legacy Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Circle Pines (grade A minus), Blaine (grade A minus), Lino Lakes (grade A minus)

- Population: 149,568
- Median home value: $332,900 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,282 (17% own)
- Median household income: $109,031
- Top public schools: Aspen Academy (grade A), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), Prior Lake High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Preschool (grade A), Prior Lake Christian Academy (grade B minus), Shakopee Area Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Savage (grade A), Prior Lake (grade A minus), Shakopee (grade A minus)

- Population: 105,694
- Median home value: $353,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,242 (17% own)
- Median household income: $107,890
- Top public schools: Minnetonka Middle School West (grade A), Cologne Academy & Cologne Academy Online (grade A), Chanhassen High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holy Family Catholic High School (grade A), Southwest Christian High School (grade A), Mayer Lutheran High School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Chanhassen (grade A+), Victoria (grade A+), Laketown Township (grade A)

- Population: 160,928
- Median home value: $249,400 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,097 (29% own)
- Median household income: $84,656
- Top public schools: Byron Intermediate School (grade A), Mayo Senior High School (grade A minus), Byron Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Lourdes High School (grade A), Schaeffer Academy (grade A minus), Rochester Central Lutheran School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Byron (grade A), Cascade Township (grade A), Haverhill Township (grade A)

- Population: 264,818
- Median home value: $326,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,465 (18% own)
- Median household income: $102,258
- Top public schools: Math & Science Academy (grade A+), St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper School (grade A+), St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: New Life Academy (grade A), St. Peter Catholic School (grade A), Hope Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Dellwood (grade A+), Lake Elmo (grade A+), Woodbury (grade A)

- Population: 435,863
- Median home value: $294,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,293 (24% own)
- Median household income: $93,892
- Top public schools: Eastview Senior High School (grade A+), Eagan Senior High School (grade A+), Lakeville South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint Thomas Academy (grade A+), Visitation School (grade A+), Trinity School at River Ridge (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Mendota Heights (grade A+), Eagan (grade A+), Rosemount (grade A)

- Population: 549,377
- Median home value: $254,900 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,120 (40% own)
- Median household income: $71,494
- Top public schools: Nova Classical Academy Upper School (grade A+), Mounds View High School (grade A+), Nova Classical Academy Lower School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mounds Park Academy (grade A+), St. Paul Academy and Summit School (grade A+), Cretin-Derham Hall (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Macalester-Groveland (grade A+), Summit Hill (grade A+), Highland (grade A+)

- Population: 1,270,283
- Median home value: $309,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,244 (37% own)
- Median household income: $85,438
- Top public schools: Wayzata High School (grade A+), Eden Prairie Senior High School (grade A+), Minnetonka Senior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The International School of Minnesota (grade A+), The Blake School (grade A+), Breck School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Medina (grade A+), Eden Prairie (grade A+), Plymouth (grade A+)