countyscore

Best Counties for Families in Minnesota 2026

87 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in Minnesota

1Lac qui Parle County
72.5
2Norman County
68.8
3Murray County
72.7
4Jackson County
72.5
5Red Lake County
73.1

All 87 Family-Ranked Counties in Minnesota

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Lac qui Parle County, MN7972.5
2Norman County, MN7868.8
3Murray County, MN7772.7
4Jackson County, MN7772.5
5Red Lake County, MN7773.1
6Lake of the Woods County, MN7774.3
7Yellow Medicine County, MN7366.5
8Grant County, MN7366.1
9Fillmore County, MN7365.1
10Wabasha County, MN7164.4
11Marshall County, MN7169.1
12Kittson County, MN7169.5
13Traverse County, MN7168.1
14Rock County, MN7070.7
15Cottonwood County, MN7063.2
16Lake County, MN6965.5
17Big Stone County, MN6968.8
18Lyon County, MN6864.5
19Pope County, MN6865.4
20Lincoln County, MN6769.3
21Swift County, MN6765.2
22Wright County, MN6656.5
23Pipestone County, MN6667
24Carver County, MN6556
25Sherburne County, MN6455.7
26Cook County, MN6361.6
27Redwood County, MN6362.9
28Dodge County, MN6358.4
29Stevens County, MN6265.6
30Sibley County, MN6257.3
31Clearwater County, MN6265.2
32Meeker County, MN6257.7
33Brown County, MN6260.3
34Houston County, MN6259.8
35Faribault County, MN6261.9
36Chippewa County, MN6259.5
37Wilkin County, MN6165.3
38Nicollet County, MN6154.4
39Roseau County, MN6156.2
40Le Sueur County, MN6156.3
41Renville County, MN6157.4
42Douglas County, MN6056.4
43Itasca County, MN5856.5
44Wadena County, MN5762.5
45Carlton County, MN5749.8
46Koochiching County, MN5659.9
47Kanabec County, MN5552.6
48Martin County, MN5559.2
49Stearns County, MN5350.3
50Washington County, MN5347.6
51Steele County, MN5349.6
52Rice County, MN5349.3
53Todd County, MN5255.4
54Watonwan County, MN5253.6
55Polk County, MN5250.9
56Cass County, MN5257.2
57McLeod County, MN5250.1
58Waseca County, MN5152.5
59Scott County, MN5145.8
60Becker County, MN5152.7
61Nobles County, MN5050.4
62Otter Tail County, MN5051.7
63Goodhue County, MN4947.8
64Freeborn County, MN4947.5
65Chisago County, MN4846.2
66Morrison County, MN4850.8
67Crow Wing County, MN4649.3
68Dakota County, MN4643
69Aitkin County, MN4553.3
70Anoka County, MN4543.7
71Olmsted County, MN4543.7
72Kandiyohi County, MN4546.2
73Mower County, MN4544.7
74Pine County, MN4546.9
75Clay County, MN4441.8
76Mille Lacs County, MN4442.6
77Winona County, MN4448
78Hubbard County, MN4350.3
79Blue Earth County, MN4241.7
80Isanti County, MN4143.6
81Mahnomen County, MN4147
82Pennington County, MN4143.9
83St. Louis County, MN3940.7
84Hennepin County, MN3836
85Benton County, MN3641
86Ramsey County, MN3532.6
87Beltrami County, MN3436

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in Minnesota?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Lac qui Parle County ranks as the top family county in Minnesota with a family score of 79.

How many counties in Minnesota are ranked for families?

We rank 87 counties in Minnesota for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse Minnesota Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.