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Living in
North Branch.
About
Life in North Branch
North Branch is a community of 11,182 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $90,383, median rent runs about $1,308 per month, and median home values are around $322,300. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
North Branch at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
+14.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in North Branch: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Branch, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (26.7%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.8%
of households
Married Couples
47.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 North Branch
Rent and home values here are close to the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,536
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $354,915 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above MN average
Unemployment in North Branch
Unemployment in Chisago County, which includes North Branch, is 0.5 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
North Branch: Chisago County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Chisago County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Branch Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.7 min avg
How North Branch residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Branch, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 45 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 87% below national average
Crime rates for 2023
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2023. It's compared with the national rate for 2023.
Violent crime in North Branch runs 87% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (386 national, 2023)
Property Crime Rate
556.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,951 national, 2023)
North Branch Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
44.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chisago County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chisago County, which includes North Branch, the most common type is winter storm, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 19 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Winter Storm | $750,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Winter Storm | $200 |
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
Chisago 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 21 miles from North Branch) 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 (21 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 4°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Branch has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 4°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/34°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/4°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.2"
Annual Snowfall
51.6"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
184
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | -0°F | 0.83" |
| Feb | 27°F | 4°F | 1.01" |
| Mar | 40°F | 17°F | 1.55" |
| Apr | 55°F | 30°F | 2.98" |
| May | 69°F | 43°F | 4.02" |
| Jun | 78°F | 52°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 82°F | 58°F | 4.22" |
| Aug | 80°F | 55°F | 4.01" |
| Sep | 72°F | 47°F | 3.48" |
| Oct | 57°F | 34°F | 3.21" |
| Nov | 41°F | 22°F | 1.62" |
| Dec | 27°F | 8°F | 1.27" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Branch
Uninsured
5.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Branch's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Fairview Lakes Health Services
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Wyoming
Cambridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Cambridge
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.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Branch
North Branch's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Branch
North Branch has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
32 mi awayMississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
40 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Branch
North Branch Area Library
6355 379th St., North Branch
Cities Near North Branch
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Branch?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Branch FAQ
Is North Branch, Minnesota affordable?⌄
North Branch's median rent is $1,308/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $90,456/year. Median home value is $322,300.
Is North Branch, Minnesota safe?⌄
North Branch's violent crime rate was 51 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 386/100k that year. Property crime rate is 557 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Branch, Minnesota?⌄
Chisago County, which includes North Branch, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Branch, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in North Branch is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,308/month and median household income is $90,456/year. The median home value is $322,300. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Branch, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in North Branch is 31 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