Hennepin County
MN · Pop. 1,268,903 · Urban County
Hennepin County sits in Minnesota across 554 square miles, home to 1,268,903 people at 2290.4 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, soybeans, corn. A median home price of $377,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.15% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 160-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F and average winter lows of 9.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 34.2 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Regency Hospital of Mpls Llc is 7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Regency Hospital of Mpls Llc, with an emergency room, is just 7 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 10% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- 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 160-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A median home price of $377,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
Hennepin County, MN is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 17/100
- Median home price
- $377k
- Property tax
- 1.15%
- Growing season
- 160 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 34.2"
- Broadband
- 99.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Regency Hospital of Mpls Llc, 7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Hennepin County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Hennepin County?
- Hennepin County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 160-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F, and average winter lows of 9.7°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $377,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.15%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Regency Hospital of Mpls Llc is 7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 13 hospitals 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 Hennepin 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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