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Living in
Chaska.
About
Life in Chaska
Chaska offers a solid middle-ground option if you want Twin Cities proximity without full urban density. The commute averages about 24 minutes to Minneapolis, and the Highway 212 freeway with bus rapid transit makes that connection reliable—or you can skip the drive some days. With a median household income around $110,000 and median home values near $404,700, it's relatively affordable for the metro area, though housing isn't cheap.
Chaska at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Foreign-Born
7.1%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+9.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Chaska: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chaska, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.1%), and 7.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.0%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
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 21% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Chaska
In Chaska, rent runs 21% above the MN average, and home values are 23% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,194
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $481,730 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below MN average
Unemployment in Chaska and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chaska is 0.6 percentage points lower than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Chaska Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute23 min avg
How Chaska residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chaska, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 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 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chaska runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
107.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
549.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chaska Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
59.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Carver County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Carver County, which includes Chaska, the most common type is winter storm, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Winter Storm | $45,500 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Winter Storm | $550,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Winter Storm | $30,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Winter Storm | $25,000 |
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
Carver County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Scott County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 12 miles from Chaska) is typically good — 266 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
266
per year
Moderate Days
91
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Scott County, MN (12 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 8°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chaska has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 8°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/8°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.6"
Annual Snowfall
51.6"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 4°F | 0.85" |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 0.90" |
| Mar | 40°F | 19°F | 1.66" |
| Apr | 56°F | 33°F | 3.24" |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 4.41" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 5.28" |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 4.58" |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 3.26" |
| Oct | 58°F | 36°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 41°F | 24°F | 1.65" |
| Dec | 28°F | 12°F | 1.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chaska
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chaska's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Shakopee
Ridgeview Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Waconia
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.4 mi away · Saint Louis Park
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.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chaska
Chaska's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 46.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Chaska (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,044 students · in-state tuition $6,567 · 26% graduate · median earnings $55,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Herzing University-Minneapolis
14.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 740 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 68% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Northwestern Health Sciences University
14.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 271 students · in-state tuition $11,535 · 50% graduate · median earnings $51,002 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chaska
Chaska has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
26 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chaska
Carver County Law Library
604 East Fourth Street, Chaska
Chaska Public Library
3 City Hall Plaza, Chaska
Cities Near Chaska
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chaska?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chaska FAQ
Is Chaska, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Chaska's median rent is $1,553/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $110,956/year. Median home value is $404,700.
Is Chaska, Minnesota safe?⌄
Chaska's violent crime rate was 107 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 549 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chaska, Minnesota?⌄
Chaska has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chaska, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Chaska is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,553/month and median household income is $110,956/year. The median home value is $404,700. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chaska, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Chaska is 23 minutes, which is about 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