Best counties to retire to in Minnesota
Best counties to retire to in Minnesota
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Minnesota based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Minnesota.
#25. Pipestone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,352
- Median household income: $66,073
- Median home value: $126,700
- Top places to live: Pipestone (B+), Edgerton (B), Gray Township (B)
#24. Itasca County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (D+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 45,141
- Median household income: $66,380
- Median home value: $212,000
- Top places to live: Coleraine (B), Cohasset (B), Grand Rapids (B)
#23. Brown County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,826
- Median household income: $68,690
- Median home value: $181,700
- Top places to live: New Ulm (B+), Sleepy Eye (B), Springfield (B+)
#22. Kandiyohi County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 43,757
- Median household income: $75,097
- Median home value: $230,500
- Top places to live: Dovre Township (B+), New London (B+), Willmar (B)
#21. Wabasha County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 21,519
- Median household income: $80,133
- Median home value: $245,800
- Top places to live: Plainview (B+), Lake City (B+), Minneiska (B+)
#20. Ramsey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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+)
#19. Redwood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 15,383
- Median household income: $67,024
- Median home value: $150,400
- Top places to live: Redwood Falls (B), Walnut Grove (B+), Kintire Township (B+)
#18. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,594
- Median household income: $67,715
- Median home value: $152,200
- Top places to live: Lake Benton (B+), Hope Township (B+), Tyler (B)
#17. Otter Tail County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 60,281
- Median household income: $70,912
- Median home value: $252,500
- Top places to live: Aurdal Township (B+), Fergus Falls (B), Perham Township (B)
#16. Cottonwood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#15. Faribault County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,909
- Median household income: $64,391
- Median home value: $120,200
- Top places to live: Blue Earth (B), Seely Township (B+), Wells (B+)
#14. Pope County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,363
- Median household income: $72,205
- Median home value: $242,800
- Top places to live: Langhei Township (B), Glenwood (B), Nora Township (B)
#13. Cass County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 30,688
- Median household income: $64,937
- Median home value: $262,300
- Top places to live: East Gull Lake (B+), Shingobee Township (B), Sylvan Township (B)
#12. Freeborn County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 30,752
- Median household income: $69,012
- Median home value: $164,900
- Top places to live: Albert Lea (B-), Bancroft Township (B), Freeborn (B)
#11. Fillmore County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 21,346
- Median household income: $75,225
- Median home value: $204,000
- Top places to live: Chatfield (A-), Lanesboro (A), Rushford (B+)
#10. Houston County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,768
- Median household income: $77,087
- Median home value: $226,300
- Top places to live: La Crescent (B+), Caledonia (B+), La Crescent Township (B)
#9. Koochiching County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (not available), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 11,950
- Median household income: $69,115
- Median home value: $143,700
- Top places to live: International Falls (B+), Littlefork (B+), Ranier (B)
#8. Murray County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 8,119
- Median household income: $74,475
- Median home value: $179,400
- Top places to live: Slayton (A-), Skandia Township (B+), Lowville Township (B+)
#7. Lac qui Parle County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 6,694
- Median household income: $71,639
- Median home value: $143,400
- Top places to live: Dawson (B+), Cerro Gordo Township (B+), Garfield Township (B)
#6. Martin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 19,864
- Median household income: $62,969
- Median home value: $158,800
- Top places to live: Fairmont (B), Cedar Township (B+), Galena Township (B)
#5. Hubbard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 21,700
- Median household income: $70,622
- Median home value: $255,900
- Top places to live: Todd Township (B-), Henrietta Township (B-), Park Rapids (C+)
#4. Crow Wing County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), 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)
#3. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 9,964
- Median household income: $69,955
- Median home value: $145,400
- Top places to live: Jackson (B), Heron Lake (B+), Okabena (B)
#2. Big Stone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,152
- Median household income: $65,475
- Median home value: $135,700
- Top places to live: Almond Township (B), Ortonville (B), Beardsley (B)
#1. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 39,354
- Median household income: $77,264
- Median home value: $291,700
- Top places to live: Alexandria (B+), La Grand Township (B), Carlos Township (B-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
