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Chippewa County

MN · Pop. 12,388 · Rural County

59/100Homestead Score

Chippewa County sits in Minnesota across 581 square miles, home to 12,388 people at 21.3 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, sugarbeets. The median home price is $149,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.04%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 145-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.4°F and average winter lows of 5.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 28.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Ccm Health is 8.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.04%
Growing Season: 145 days
Broadband: 100%
Density: 21.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $149,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Ccm Health, with an emergency room, is just 8.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, sugarbeets means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • At 21.3 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.

Cons

  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A 145-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Average winter lows of 5.4°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Chippewa County, MN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
59/100
Median home price
$149k
Property tax
1.04%
Growing season
145 days (zone 4b)
Annual rainfall
28.6"
Broadband
100%
Nearest hospital
Ccm Health, 8.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.04%
Median Household Income$69,192
Poverty Rate14.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$149K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone4b
Growing Season145 days
Annual Rainfall28.6 inches
Avg Summer High80.4°F
Avg Winter Low5.4°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Sugarbeets

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought7/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado5/10
Flood5/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalCcm Health (8.9 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage100%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.4%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Chippewa County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Chippewa County?
Chippewa County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 145-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.4°F, and average winter lows of 5.4°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, sugarbeets.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $149,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.04%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Ccm Health is 8.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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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.