CountyScore

Lake of the Woods County

Minnesota · MN

#3 in Minnesota
77.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

Lake of the Woods ranks among America's best

Lake of the Woods' composite score of 77.4 exceeds the national median of 50 by over 27 points, placing it in the top 20% of all U.S. counties for livability. This exceptional ranking reflects particularly strong performance on affordability and risk resilience.

Minnesota's upper-tier livability destination

Lake of the Woods' 77.4 score ranks well above Minnesota's state average of 70.9, making it one of the state's most livable counties. Among the state's 87 counties, this represents top-quartile performance.

Unmatched tax efficiency and outstanding resilience

Lake of the Woods delivers the second-lowest effective tax rate (0.707%) and an exceptional risk score of 96.5, signaling outstanding economic and environmental stability. The cost score of 80.0 with median rents at $867/month adds significant household budget relief.

Income ceiling limits wealth-building potential

With a median household income of $70,091 and an income score of 29.1, Lake of the Woods mirrors rural Minnesota's wage constraints. Local employment opportunities don't support high income growth.

Ideal for remote workers seeking maximum stability

Lake of the Woods County is perfect for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and retirees seeking the most tax-efficient, affordable, and stable living environment in Minnesota. If your income comes from outside the local economy, this county's exceptional affordability and resilience make it an outstanding choice.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax82.4Cost80SafetyComing SoonHealth78.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.1Risk96.5WaterComing Soon
🏛82.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡96.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Lake of the Woods County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Fallon County
Montana
77.4
Median income: $72,284
LaMoure County
North Dakota
77.4
Median income: $70,263
LaSalle Parish
Louisiana
77.5
Median income: $67,077
Daniels County
Montana
77.5
Median income: $58,000
Caribou County
Idaho
77.3
Median income: $66,653

Deep Dives

Lake of the Woods County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Lake of the Woods County

via TaxByCounty

Lake of the Woods: Minnesota's lowest-tax county

At 0.707%, Lake of the Woods has the lowest effective tax rate among all eight counties profiled and well below the national median of 0.84%. Annual taxes of $1,520 are 43% lower than the national median of $2,690, marking the county as extraordinarily tax-friendly.

Lake of the Woods leads Minnesota counties

Lake of the Woods' 0.707% effective rate is the lowest statewide, falling 27% below Minnesota's average of 0.968%. The median property tax of $1,520 ranks among the state's most favorable.

Lake of the Woods sets the regional standard

No neighboring county comes close to Lake of the Woods' 0.707% rate; the next-lowest is Lake County at 0.751%, followed by Koochiching (0.799%) and Kittson (0.916%). Lake of the Woods is unquestionably the region's tax leader.

Your estimated annual Lake of the Woods tax

Homeowners with a property valued at the county median of $215,000 pay an estimated $1,520 annually. With a mortgage, expect around $1,372; without, approximately $1,808.

Protect your advantage with assessment review

Lake of the Woods residents enjoy one of Minnesota's lowest tax rates, but staying vigilant about individual assessments keeps savings intact. Review your latest assessment notice and compare your home's value against recent comparable sales—any overvaluation is worth appealing to the county assessor.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lake of the Woods County

via CostByCounty

Lake of the Woods: slightly above national norms

Lake of the Woods County residents spend 14.8% of their $70,091 median household income on rent, just above the national comfort zone but approaching problematic territory. At $867 per month, median rent is accessible, though local incomes trail the national average by about $4,600, typical for remote northern Minnesota.

Marginally above state rent-to-income average

Lake of the Woods's 14.8% rent-to-income ratio edges slightly above Minnesota's 14.5% state average, placing it in the middle tier of the state's housing markets. Median rent of $867 runs $48 below the state average of $915, offering modest rental savings relative to the broader state.

Moderate costs among northern peers

Lake of the Woods renters pay $867 monthly, positioning the county between Kittson's $728 and Kanabec's $1,003, with a rent burden of 14.8% that matches most state norms. The county occupies the middle ground of affordability among its northern Minnesota neighbors.

Balanced housing costs on modest incomes

Renters in Lake of the Woods spend 14.8% of their $70,091 annual income on housing, very close to the state average, while homeowners pay $839 monthly for properties valued at $215,000. Both pathways require moderate household discipline but remain within reach for middle-income families.

Reasonable middle ground in the north

Lake of the Woods offers modest rent and home values without the extreme affordability of Kittson or the premium pricing of Lake County. The county suits those seeking a balance between housing costs and northern Minnesota living, though economic diversity may be limited for relocating job seekers.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lake of the Woods County

via IncomeByCounty

Lake of the Woods Below National Standard

Lake of the Woods County's median household income of $70,091 falls about $4,664 short of the national median of $74,755, a 6.2% gap. The county earns less than typical American households, though remains in the moderate range nationally.

Lower Income Among Minnesota Counties

Lake of the Woods ranks below Minnesota's state average of $75,757 by $5,666, placing it in the lower-middle tier among the state's 87 counties. The per capita income of $39,814 suggests limited wealth concentration locally.

Mid-Range Among Regional Peers

Lake of the Woods' $70,091 median falls between Kittson ($69,615) on the lower end and Kanabec ($71,915) and Kandiyohi ($75,097) above. The county reflects typical income levels for Minnesota's far northern rural regions.

Affordable Housing Market

Lake of the Woods excels with a 14.8% rent-to-income ratio, keeping housing costs well under the 30% benchmark. The median home value of $215,000 is accessible for households earning the county median, though requires disciplined saving.

Strategic Saving on Moderate Income

At $70,091, Lake of the Woods households must budget carefully but benefit from affordable housing that frees up resources for savings. Focus on employer retirement benefits first, then build a dedicated emergency fund before pursuing additional investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lake of the Woods County

via HealthByCounty

Lake of the Woods meets national life expectancy

Lake of the Woods residents live an average of 78.9 years, nearly matching the U.S. average of 79.3 years. The poor or fair health rate of 15.2% is in line with national figures, reflecting fairly typical population health.

Slightly above-average health outcomes statewide

At 78.9 years, Lake of the Woods' life expectancy exceeds Minnesota's state average of 78.7 years by 0.2 years. The county ranks in the middle-to-upper tier statewide for health outcomes.

Mid-range health metrics regionally

Lake of the Woods' 78.9-year life expectancy sits between higher-performing counties like Lake (79.6 years) and lower-performing ones like Koochiching (76.9 years). The 15.2% poor/fair health rate is mid-range for the region.

Good insurance coverage, very limited provider access

Lake of the Woods boasts a low uninsured rate of 5.2%, well below Minnesota's 6.0% average, indicating strong coverage. However, primary care provider access is severely limited at just 26 per 100,000 residents, and mental health providers number only 27 per 100,000—both among the region's lowest.

Insurance is crucial with limited provider access

Given limited healthcare providers in Lake of the Woods, having health insurance is essential. Check your coverage at MNsure.org to ensure you're protected and can access available services.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lake of the Woods County

via RiskByCounty

Lake of the Woods is among safest nationally

With a composite risk score of just 3.53, Lake of the Woods County ranks among the lowest-risk counties in the United States. The county experiences minimal exposure to most natural hazards.

The safest county in Minnesota

Lake of the Woods' 3.53 score is only 8% of Minnesota's average (42.38), making it the state's lowest-risk county. Virtually all hazard categories score near zero.

Virtually unmatched in safety

Lake of the Woods (3.53) and Kittson County (4.80) represent Minnesota's two safest areas, separated by less than a point. Both dramatically outpace any other regional counties in natural disaster safety.

Wildfire the only registered concern

Wildfire risk scores 55.44—Lake of the Woods' sole notable hazard—while flood, tornado, and earthquake risks all register below 18. The county's overall risk profile is remarkably balanced and low.

Minimal coverage concerns

Standard homeowners insurance should provide ample protection for your property. Verify wildfire coverage is included and maintain property defensibility, but flood insurance is unlikely necessary.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.