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Living in
Big Lake.
About
Life in Big Lake
Big Lake is a community of 12,115 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $120,549, median rent runs about $1,340 per month, and median home values are around $330,200. Unemployment is low at 4.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Big Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
+10.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from Kenya
Who lives in Big Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Big Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from Kenya (22.0%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.6%
of residents
65 and Older
5.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
45.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
12.8%
of households
Married Couples
51.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.05
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MN
Rent, home values, and income in Big Lake
Rent and home values here are close to the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,549
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
86.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2000
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $375,302 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Big Lake
Unemployment in Sherburne County, which includes Big Lake, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Big Lake: Sherburne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Sherburne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Big Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.2 min avg
How Big Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Big Lake, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 39% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 40 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 72% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Big Lake runs 72% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
91.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
494.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Big Lake Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
53.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sherburne County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sherburne County, which includes Big Lake, the most common type is winter storm, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2021 | 4 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sherburne County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wright County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from Big Lake) is typically good — 255 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
255
per year
Moderate Days
84
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Wright County, MN (16 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 7°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Big Lake has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 7°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/7°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.0"
Annual Snowfall
35.7"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
163
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
89
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 4°F | 0.80" |
| Feb | 28°F | 7°F | 0.83" |
| Mar | 41°F | 18°F | 1.67" |
| Apr | 56°F | 32°F | 3.04" |
| May | 69°F | 45°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 4.45" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 81°F | 58°F | 4.03" |
| Sep | 73°F | 49°F | 3.61" |
| Oct | 58°F | 36°F | 2.96" |
| Nov | 41°F | 24°F | 1.71" |
| Dec | 27°F | 11°F | 1.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Big Lake
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Big Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centracare Health - Monticello
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Monticello
Buffalo Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 12 mi away · Buffalo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Big Lake
Big Lake's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Big Lake
Big Lake has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
42 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Big Lake
Big Lake Public Library
790 Minnesota Avenue, Big Lake
Cities Near Big Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Big Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Big Lake FAQ
Is Big Lake, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Big Lake's median rent is $1,340/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $120,549/year. Median home value is $330,200.
Is Big Lake, Minnesota safe?⌄
Big Lake's violent crime rate was 91 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 495 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Big Lake, Minnesota?⌄
Sherburne County, which includes Big Lake, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Big Lake, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Big Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,340/month and median household income is $120,549/year. The median home value is $330,200. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Big Lake, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Big Lake is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from