Carver County
MN · Pop. 108,622 · Mixed County
Carver County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Minnesota, spanning 354 square miles with 108,622 residents at a density of 306.8 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $427,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.03% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.6°F and average winter lows of 6.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 32.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Ridgeview Medical Center is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Ridgeview Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 1.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.4% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 4.2% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 158-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A median home price of $427,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- Average winter lows of 6.5°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Carver County, MN is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 27/100
- Median home price
- $427k
- Property tax
- 1.03%
- Growing season
- 158 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 32.7"
- Broadband
- 99.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Ridgeview Medical Center, 1.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Carver County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Carver County?
- Carver County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.6°F, and average winter lows of 6.5°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $427,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.03%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Ridgeview Medical Center is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Minnesota Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Minnesota
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The closest counties to Carver County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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