Best counties to raise a family in Minnesota

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), 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)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 41,458
- Median household income: $71,480
- Median home value: $247,100
- Top places to live: Sauk Rapids (B), Watab Township (B-), Minden Township (C+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 22,067
- Median household income: $65,509
- Median home value: $179,200
- Top places to live: Worthington (B), Adrian (A-), Bigelow Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (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+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 99,178
- Median household income: $102,965
- Median home value: $332,700
- Top places to live: Elk River (B+), Becker (B), Big Lake (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 20,962
- Median household income: $92,943
- Median home value: $267,500
- Top places to live: Kasson (B+), Mantorville (B+), Mantorville Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 159,358
- Median household income: $76,447
- Median home value: $256,500
- Top places to live: Lake George (A-), Sartell (A-), Colonial Gardens (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 37,413
- Median household income: $83,448
- Median home value: $234,200
- Top places to live: Owatonna (B+), Blooming Prairie (B+), Medford Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 9,686
- Median household income: $71,060
- Median home value: $180,800
- Top places to live: Morris (A-), Rendsville Township (B+), Swan Lake Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (C+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 46,421
- Median household income: $67,257
- Median home value: $222,300
- Top places to live: Northern Township (A), Bemidji Township (A-), Bemidji (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 69,386
- Median household income: $72,623
- Median home value: $252,800
- Top places to live: Mankato (B+), Eagle Lake (B+), South Bend Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,628
- Median household income: $70,698
- Median home value: $201,600
- Top places to live: Luverne (A-), Hardwick (A-), Beaver Creek Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 25,498
- Median household income: $72,761
- Median home value: $193,100
- Top places to live: Marshall (B+), Lake Marshall Township (B+), Minneota (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 34,350
- Median household income: $80,362
- Median home value: $258,500
- Top places to live: North Mankato (A), St. Peter (A-), Belgrade Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 5,633
- Median household income: $71,643
- Median home value: $294,000
- Top places to live: Grand Marais (A-), Lutsen (A-), Lutsen Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 65,628
- Median household income: $77,664
- Median home value: $256,000
- Top places to live: Moorhead (A-), Dilworth (B), Barnesville (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 367,095
- Median household income: $98,764
- Median home value: $325,800
- Top places to live: Blaine (A-), Circle Pines (A-), Lino Lakes (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 145,270
- Median household income: $106,666
- Median home value: $332,800
- Top places to live: Delano (A), St. Michael (A-), Albertville (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 163,425
- Median household income: $93,494
- Median home value: $304,500
- Top places to live: Cascade Township (A), Haverhill Township (A), Rochester (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 108,622
- Median household income: $123,144
- Median home value: $426,900
- Top places to live: Chanhassen (A+), Victoria (A), Carver (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 152,957
- Median household income: $120,247
- Median home value: $393,500
- Top places to live: Savage (A), Prior Lake (A), Shakopee (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 442,204
- Median household income: $105,212
- Median home value: $362,100
- Top places to live: Mendota Heights (A+), Eagan (A+), Lakeville (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A-), 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+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 272,298
- Median household income: $114,457
- Median home value: $400,900
- Top places to live: Woodbury (A+), West Lakeland Township (A), Dellwood (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,268,903
- Median household income: $96,339
- Median home value: $376,500
- Top places to live: Eden Prairie (A+), King Field (A+), Medina (A+)