Moving to
North Branch.

All North Branch data Compare North Branch

11,565people live here $90,456median household income▲ 12% above US $1,308median rent per monthNear US average $322,300median home valueNear US average

What it's like to live in North Branch

North Branch is a small city in Minnesota with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.

The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Branch deals with commute times longer than most cities, college degree attainment below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.

The good

Higher-than-average incomes
Low crime rates
Fast-growing population

The not so good

Above-average commute times
Low college degree attainment
High student-teacher ratio
High rent burden for renters
Brutally cold winters
Snowy winters — 52" per year

How North Branch compares

Median household income

North Branch$90,456

Minnesota avg$89,062

US$80,734

Median rent (per month)

North Branch$1,308

Minnesota avg$1,280

US$1,413

Median home value

North Branch$322,300

Minnesota avg$329,300

US$332,700

What it takes to move to North Branch

Based on North Branch's median rent, home value and household income

To rent

$2,616

up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit

Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,320 a year
56% of North Branch renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent

To buy

$64,460

a 20% down payment on the median home

With 10% down: $32,230
Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)

Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.

The details

Cost of livingNear US average

$1,308/mo median rent

Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,308 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $322,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.

Median home value $322,300 · 56% of renters cost-burdened

Job market

4.4% county unemployment

Unemployment in Chisago County is 4.4%, 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.

Chisago County (county-wide)

Safety▼ 87% below US

51 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 557/100k · North Branch Police Department · 2023 data

Getting around▲ 18% above US

31 min average commute

Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.

How workers get to work

Drive alone

82%

Carpool

9.7%

Work from home

6.1%

Other

1.8%

Walk

0.9%

Climate

Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 4°F.

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

30-year averages, 1991–2020

Education & workforce▼ 49% below US

18% bachelor's degree or higher

This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.

Schools

9 public schools inside the boundary

There are 9 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.

Parks & recreation

The nearest national park or historic site is Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (32 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.

Bottom line

North Branch's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are commute times longer than most cities and college degree attainment below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,308/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.

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