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Living in
Elk River.
About
Life in Elk River
If you're considering Elk River, understand that you're looking at a family-oriented suburban community in transition—it's grown significantly and continues to expand, which means you'll find newer housing stock and developing infrastructure alongside typical exurban growing pains. The median home value sits around $370,000 with rents averaging $1,283, which is reasonable for the region, though you should expect property taxes and overall costs consistent with Minnesota suburbs. The job market is solid with only 3.7% unemployment, but many residents commute to Minneapolis—currently averaging 28 minutes by car, though the loss of the Northstar Commuter Rail line in early 2026 means you'll be driving or taking a replacement bus service if that's your plan.
Elk River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
+8.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Kenya
Who lives in Elk River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elk River, the largest foreign-born group is from Kenya (15.8%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.6%
of households
Married Couples
56.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 Elk River
In Elk River, home values are 12% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,296
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $398,641 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Elk River
Unemployment in Elk River is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Elk River Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.4 min avg
How Elk River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elk River, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 34 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 74% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Elk River runs 74% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
85.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
724
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Elk River 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 Elk River, 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 Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anoka County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from Elk River) is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
85
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Anoka County, MN (16 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 7°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elk River 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
32.9"
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 Elk River
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Elk River's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centracare Health - Monticello
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.5 mi away · Monticello
Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center
Psychiatric · 12.2 mi away · Anoka
Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Coon Rapids
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.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elk River
Elk River's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
26
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
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, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elk River
Elk River has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
35 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
64 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elk River
Elk River Public Library
13020 Orono Parkway, Elk River
Cities Near Elk River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elk River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elk River FAQ
Is Elk River, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Elk River's median rent is $1,283/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $108,741/year. Median home value is $370,100.
Is Elk River, Minnesota safe?⌄
Elk River's violent crime rate was 86 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 724 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elk River, Minnesota?⌄
Elk River has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elk River, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Elk River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,283/month and median household income is $108,741/year. The median home value is $370,100. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elk River, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Elk River is 27 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