Best counties to live in Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,002
- Population: 15,428
- Median household income: $65,617
- Median home value: $138,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $759 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Red Rock Central Secondary School (grade B), Wabasso Secondary School (grade B), Redwood Valley Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. John Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Anne School (grade unavailable), St. Michael's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Redwood Falls (grade B), Kintire Township (grade A minus), Lamberton (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,000
- Population: 39,081
- Median household income: $72,472
- Median home value: $277,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $847 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Garfield Elementary School (grade A minus), Osakis Elementary School (grade A minus), Brandon-Evansville Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: New Testament Christian School (grade C+), St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Alexandria (grade B+), La Grand Township (grade B), Carlos Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 986
- Population: 21,479
- Median household income: $67,197
- Median home value: $245,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $827 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Nevis Elementary School (grade B+), Century Elementary School (grade B), Nevis Secondary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Todd Township (grade B minus), Henrietta Township (grade B minus), Park Rapids (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 971
- Population: 20,893
- Median household income: $92,890
- Median home value: $245,800 (87% own)
- Median rent: $901 (13% rent)
- 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: Kasson (grade B+), Mantorville Township (grade B), Dodge Center (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 957
- Population: 25,880
- Median household income: $67,038
- Median home value: $165,200 (79% own)
- Median rent: $825 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Springfield Elementary School (grade A), New Ulm High School (grade B+), Sleepy Eye Secondary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (grade B), St. Mary's Catholic School (grade B minus), St. Paul's Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: New Ulm (grade B+), Sleepy Eye (grade B+), Springfield (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 953
- Population: 40,082
- Median household income: $66,972
- Median home value: $158,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $818 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Grand Meadow Elementary School (grade B+), Grand Meadow Senior High School (grade B), Southland Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Pacelli High School (grade A minus), Pacelli Elementary School (grade unavailable), Sacred Heart School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Austin (grade B), Udolpho Township (grade B+), Adams Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 840
- Population: 43,686
- Median household income: $73,285
- Median home value: $214,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $800 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: New London-Spicer Middle School (grade B+), Willmar Senior High School (grade B), Prairie Woods Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Community Christian School (grade B+), Central Minnesota Christian School (grade C+)
- Top places: New London (grade B+), New London Township (grade B), Irving Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 829
- Population: 31,128
- Median household income: $69,540
- Median home value: $204,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $822 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Win-E-Mac Elementary School (grade A minus), Fertile-Beltrami Elementary School (grade B+), Win-E-Mac High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade B+), Riverside Christian School (grade unavailable), Cathedral Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: East Grand Forks (grade B+), Crookston (grade B), McIntosh (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 799
- Population: 67,152
- Median household income: $78,214
- Median home value: $279,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,021 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Spring Creek Elementary (grade A), Bridgewater Elementary School (grade A), Northfield Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Shattuck-St. Mary's School (grade A+), Bethlehem Academy (grade B+), Divine Mercy Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Northfield (grade A+), Dundas (grade A minus), Bridgewater Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 725
- Population: 37,396
- Median household income: $79,722
- Median home value: $217,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $914 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Blooming Prairie Elementary School (grade B+), Owatonna Senior High School (grade B+), Lincoln Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Owatonna Christian School (grade B+), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable), Owatonna Montessori Children's House (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Owatonna (grade B+), Blooming Prairie (grade B+), Medford Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 691
- Population: 49,792
- Median household income: $66,162
- Median home value: $203,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $803 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Ridgeway Community School (grade A minus), Bluffview Montessori School (grade B+), St. Charles Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Cotter Schools (grade B+), Hope Lutheran High School (grade B), Winona Area Catholic Schools (grade unavailable)
- Top places: St. Charles (grade A), Winona (grade B+), Wilson Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 660
- Population: 200,122
- Median household income: $66,491
- Median home value: $192,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $927 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Lester Park Elementary School (grade A minus), Congdon Elementary School (grade A minus), Harbor City International School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Marshall School (grade A), Lakeview Christian Academy (grade B minus), Stella Maris Academy - Holy Rosary Campus (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Duluth (grade A minus), Hermantown (grade B+), Ely (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 659
- Population: 158,622
- Median household income: $73,105
- Median home value: $241,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $975 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Oak Ridge Elementary School (grade A), Sartell Middle School (grade A), Pine Meadow Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John's Preparatory School (grade A+), Cathedral Middle and High School (grade B+), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Le Sauk Township (grade A minus), Sartell (grade A minus), St. Joseph (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 655
- Population: 46,274
- Median household income: $62,173
- Median home value: $203,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $935 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln Elementary School (grade A minus), Bemidji Senior High School (grade A minus), Treknorth High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Philip's School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's Mission School (grade unavailable), Heartland Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Northern Township (grade A+), Bemidji Township (grade A minus), Eckles Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 632
- Population: 363,985
- Median household income: $95,782
- Median home value: $302,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,356 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Elementary Lighthouse (grade A), Sunrise Elementary School (grade A), Andover Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Al-Amal School (grade A+), Totino-Grace High School (grade A), Woodcrest Baptist Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Blaine (grade A minus), Lino Lakes (grade A minus), Circle Pines (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 604
- Population: 9,659
- Median household income: $75,060
- Median home value: $189,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $788 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School (grade A minus), Luverne Elementary School (grade B+), Luverne Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: South Western Youth Services (grade unavailable), Hills Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Luverne (grade A minus), Hardwick (grade B+), Beaver Creek Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 599
- Population: 9,682
- Median household income: $69,737
- Median home value: $170,700 (68% own)
- Median rent: $821 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Hancock Elementary School (grade B+), Morris Area Elementary School (grade B), Hancock Secondary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morris (grade B+), Swan Lake Township (grade A minus), Hancock (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 541
- Population: 142,543
- Median household income: $102,980
- Median home value: $310,900 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,149 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: St. Michael Elementary School (grade A), Fieldstone Elementary School (grade A), Big Woods 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: St. Michael (grade A), Delano (grade A), Otsego (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 491
- Population: 25,352
- Median household income: $68,919
- Median home value: $177,600 (70% own)
- Median rent: $718 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Minneota Elementary School (grade A minus), Marshall High School (grade A minus), Minneota Secondary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Holy Redeemer School (grade unavailable), Marshall Area Christian School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Marshall (grade A minus), Lake Marshall Township (grade A minus), Fairview Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 400
- Population: 65,307
- Median household income: $75,006
- Median home value: $241,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $972 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Hawley Elementary School (grade B+), Barnesville Elementary School (grade B+), Moorhead High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Park Christian School (grade B+), St. Joseph's School (grade unavailable), Cobber Kids - Concordia College (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Moorhead (grade A minus), Dilworth (grade B+), Moorhead Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 381
- Population: 69,022
- Median household income: $70,906
- Median home value: $239,200 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,007 (39% rent)
- 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), Grace Christian School (grade A minus), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Mankato (grade A minus), Mankato Township (grade A minus), Eagle Lake (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 369
- Population: 34,380
- Median household income: $79,113
- Median home value: $240,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $901 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Bridges Community Elementary School (grade A), Dakota Meadows Middle School (grade B+), Hoover Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (grade B+), John Ireland School (grade unavailable), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Mankato (grade A), St. Peter (grade B+), Belgrade Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 179
- Population: 5,611
- Median household income: $71,937
- Median home value: $289,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $874 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Cook County Senior High School (grade B+), Sawtooth Mountain Elementary School (grade B), Great Expectations School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Grand Marais (grade A), Lutsen Township (grade A minus), Lutsen (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 156
- Population: 151,347
- Median household income: $118,268
- Median home value: $376,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,419 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Hidden Oaks Middle School (grade A), Jeffers Pond Elementary School (grade A minus), Westwood Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Prior Lake Christian Academy (grade B minus), St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Preschool (grade A), Shakopee Area Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Savage (grade A), Prior Lake (grade A), Shakopee (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 101
- Population: 107,216
- Median household income: $116,308
- Median home value: $400,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,384 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Cologne Academy (grade A), Minnetonka Middle School West (grade A), Laketown Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holy Family Catholic High School (grade A), Southwest Christian High School (grade A), Mayer Lutheran (grade B)
- Top places: Chanhassen (grade A+), Victoria (grade A+), Carver (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 86
- Population: 439,179
- Median household income: $101,360
- Median home value: $341,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,410 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Eastview Senior High School (grade A+), Eagan Senior High School (grade A), Cherry View Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint Thomas Academy (grade A), Visitation School (grade A), Trinity School at River Ridge (grade A)
- Top places: Mendota Heights (grade A+), Eagan (grade A+), Lakeville (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 76
- Population: 268,651
- Median household income: $110,828
- Median home value: $379,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,577 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Math & Science Academy (grade A+), St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower School (grade A+), St. Croix Preparatory Academy Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: New Life Academy (grade A), Hope Christian Academy (grade B), St. Peter Catholic School (grade A+)
- Top places: Woodbury (grade A+), Lake Elmo (grade A), Dellwood (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 63
- Population: 547,202
- Median household income: $78,108
- Median home value: $289,300 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,214 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Nova Classical Academy Upper School (grade A+), Nova Classical Academy Lower School (grade A), Mounds View High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Paul Academy and Summit School (grade A+), Mounds Park Academy (grade A+), Cretin-Derham Hall (grade A+)
- Top places: Falcon Heights (grade A+), Lauderdale (grade A+), Macalester-Groveland (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 43
- Population: 162,307
- Median household income: $90,420
- Median home value: $285,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,193 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Folwell Elementary School (grade A minus), Byron Intermediate School (grade A minus), Washington Elementary 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: Cascade Township (grade A), Rochester (grade A), Byron (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 17
- Population: 1,270,787
- Median household income: $92,595
- Median home value: $358,000 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,373 (37% rent)
- 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: Eden Prairie (grade A+), Medina (grade A+), Edina (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.