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Quality of Life in Sherburne County
A livable area that tracks near national norms for affordability, walkability, and neighborhood health.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
Cost of Living
7% above national average
108%
The Real Cost of Living in Sherburne County for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $18k | $35k |
| Comfortable | $65k | $95k |
| Luxury | $145k+ | $225k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $171k+ | $264k+ |
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Sherburne County, Minnesota, offers a distinct quality-of-life spectrum that ranges from the suburban-style growth of its largest city, Elk River, to the quiet, agricultural character of smaller communities like Zimmerman and Princeton, and finally to the sparsely populated rural townships that define its northern and western reaches. The county’s overall cost of living index sits at 107 (100 being the U.S. average), with a median home value of $332,700 and a median rent of $1,151, placing it as a moderately priced alternative to the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. Residents are drawn to different parts of the county based on their tolerance for commuting—the average commute is 31.3 minutes—and their preference for either access to regional amenities or deep privacy on acreage.
Largest town(s) & population centers
Elk River is the county seat and by far its largest population center, home to roughly 25,000 residents. Daily life here is defined by a blend of established neighborhoods, new housing developments, and a commercial corridor along Highway 10 and Highway 169 that includes big-box retailers, chain restaurants, and the Elk River Energy Center. The town has a walkable historic downtown along the Mississippi River, with local shops, the Oliver H. Kelley Farm (a National Historic Landmark), and the Elk River Area School District, which is the county’s largest employer. Big Lake, located just north of Elk River, is a smaller but fast-growing community of about 11,000, centered around the Big Lake Schools and the Big Lake Sports Complex. Both towns serve as bedroom communities for commuters to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis is about 40 minutes south), and their housing stock is dominated by single-family homes, with median home values in Elk River hovering around $340,000 and in Big Lake closer to $310,000.
Smaller towns & rural pockets
Moving north and west, the county’s character shifts markedly. Zimmerman (population roughly 5,500) is a classic small town with a grain elevator, a handful of local eateries, and a strong sense of community centered on the Zimmerman High School. It sits at the junction of Highway 169 and County Road 4, offering a quieter pace than Elk River but still within a 30-minute drive of larger retail. Princeton, which straddles the Sherburne-Mille Lacs county line, has a population of about 4,700 on the Sherburne side and functions as a regional hub for the northern part of the county, with its own hospital (Fairview Northland Medical Center) and a historic downtown. Further out, unincorporated areas like Orrock, Baldwin, and Becker (the latter is a township, not a city) are almost entirely rural, with large tracts of farmland, scattered houses on 5- to 40-acre lots, and no municipal water or sewer. These pockets are where you find the county’s most affordable land—raw acreage can sell for $5,000–$10,000 per acre—but also the longest drives to groceries, schools, and medical care.
Cost & lifestyle range
The cost of living and lifestyle options vary dramatically across Sherburne County. At the high end, Elk River’s newer subdivisions (e.g., the Pheasant Run or Riverwood neighborhoods) feature homes priced between $400,000 and $600,000, with quick access to the Mississippi River Regional Trail and the Elk River Aquatic Center. At the low end, rental apartments in Big Lake and older homes in Princeton can be found for under $1,000 per month, though the county’s median rent of $1,151 reflects the tighter market near Elk River. The most affordable home purchases are in Zimmerman and rural townships like Orrock, where fixer-upper houses on acreage can be found for under $250,000. The trade-off is clear: Elk River offers the best access to jobs, shopping, and schools, but its average commute of 31 minutes is actually the county’s shortest; residents of Orrock or Baldwin often face 40- to 50-minute drives to reach their workplaces in the Twin Cities or St. Cloud. Property taxes in Sherburne County average about 1.1% of home value, slightly below the state average, which helps keep carrying costs manageable for those buying land.
This county is best suited for people who want a genuine rural or small-town lifestyle but need to remain within an hour’s drive of a major metro area. Families who prioritize school quality and after-school activities tend to cluster in Elk River and Big Lake, while those seeking privacy, acreage, and a slower pace gravitate toward Zimmerman, Princeton, and the unincorporated townships. Retirees and remote workers are increasingly buying land in the northern townships, drawn by the low property taxes and the ability to build custom homes on large lots. Sherburne County is not for someone who wants urban density or a short walk to nightlife, but for those who value space, community, and a moderate cost of living, it offers a clear and viable choice.
Crime in Sherburne County
Generally safer than 62% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Sherburne County, a fast-growing suburban and exurban area northwest of the Twin Cities, reports a violent crime rate of 222.8 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1,417.9 per 100,000, placing it in a middle tier for safety within the broader Minneapolis-St. Paul metro region. While not among the most dangerous counties in Minnesota, the data reveals a community where property crime is a more pressing concern than violent offenses, and where the influence of progressive judicial policies from the nearby metro area raises legitimate questions about long-term public safety trends.
Crime in context
Sherburne County’s violent crime rate of 222.8 per 100,000 is roughly 40% below the national average of about 380 per 100,000, but it sits slightly above the Minnesota state average of approximately 210 per 100,000. The property crime rate of 1,417.9 per 100,000 is notably higher than both the national average (around 1,950) and the state average (roughly 1,600), indicating that theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are the primary safety challenges. Compared to neighboring counties, Sherburne’s property crime rate is elevated relative to more rural Wright County (approximately 1,100 per 100,000) but lower than the urban core of Hennepin County (over 2,500 per 100,000). The county’s proximity to the Twin Cities means it is not immune to spillover crime from the metro area, particularly in communities like Elk River and Big Lake, which serve as commuter hubs.
What residents experience
For residents, the day-to-day reality is that property crime—especially theft from vehicles and burglaries—is the most likely encounter with criminal activity. The city of Elk River, the county seat and largest population center, sees a disproportionate share of reported incidents, driven by its commercial corridors and highway access. Big Lake and Becker also report elevated property crime rates relative to their populations, likely due to their proximity to Interstate 94 and rail lines. Violent crime, while less common, is concentrated in specific areas, with Zimmerman and parts of Clear Lake occasionally reporting higher rates of assault and domestic incidents. A significant concern for residents is the influence of the 10th Judicial District, which covers Sherburne County and is part of a broader metro-area judicial system that has increasingly adopted progressive sentencing reforms. These reforms, including diversion programs and reduced bail requirements, have been criticized by public safety advocates for releasing repeat property offenders back onto the streets without meaningful consequences, contributing to a cycle of recidivism that frustrates local law enforcement and victims alike.
Neighborhood-level variation
Safety varies considerably within Sherburne County. The more rural townships, such as Palmer Township and Orrock Township, report crime rates significantly below the county average, with violent crime nearly absent and property crime limited to occasional farm equipment theft. In contrast, the suburban developments around Elk River’s downtown and the Big Lake industrial area see higher rates of theft and vandalism. The county sheriff’s office and local police departments in Elk River and Becker have implemented community policing initiatives and property crime task forces, but the effectiveness of these efforts is undermined by the broader judicial environment. Residents considering a move to Sherburne County should weigh the relatively low violent crime rates against the persistent property crime problem and the potential for further increases if progressive policies continue to prioritize offender rehabilitation over public protection. For those seeking the safest neighborhoods, the outlying townships and smaller communities like Baldwin offer the best options, while the I-94 corridor towns require more vigilance.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-12T08:00:05.000Z
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