Mille Lacs County
MN · Pop. 26,912 · Suburban County
Mille Lacs County sits in Minnesota across 572 square miles, home to 26,912 people at 47 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, soybeans, corn. The median home price is $238,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.04%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4a with a 135-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.3°F and average winter lows of 3.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 27.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Mille Lacs Health System is 10.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Mille Lacs Health System, with an emergency room, is just 10.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low poverty rate of 10.5% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 135-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 3.4°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Mille Lacs County, MN is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 47/100
- Median home price
- $238k
- Property tax
- 1.04%
- Growing season
- 135 days (zone 4a)
- Annual rainfall
- 27.5"
- Broadband
- 96.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Mille Lacs Health System, 10.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Mille Lacs County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Mille Lacs County?
- Mille Lacs County is in USDA hardiness zone 4a with a 135-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.3°F, and average winter lows of 3.4°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $238,000 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 96.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Mille Lacs Health System is 10.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Minnesota
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The closest counties to Mille Lacs 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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