What it's like to live in Lino Lakes
Lino Lakes is a small city in Minnesota with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Lino Lakes deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 44" per year
How Lino Lakes compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Lino Lakes
Based on Lino Lakes's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,748
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,960 a year
- 59% of Lino Lakes renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$81,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,720
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,874/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,874 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $407,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $407,200 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Anoka County is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Anoka County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 87% below US
43 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 584/100k · Lino Lakes Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 12°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 20% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (16 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Lino Lakes's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,874/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Lino Lakes
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Shoreview →
6 mi away · pop. 26,714
Rent $1,661/mo · Income $108,370
Compare with Lino Lakes →Moving to Mounds View →
7 mi away · pop. 12,926
Rent $1,245/mo · Income $90,009
Compare with Lino Lakes →Not sure Lino Lakes is the one?
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