Pine County
MN · Pop. 29,411 · Rural County
Pine County is a rural county in Minnesota, spanning 1,411 square miles with 29,411 residents at a density of 20.8 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, corn, haylage. A median home price of $226,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.87% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4a with a 125-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.6°F and average winter lows of 3.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 30.6 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Essentia Health Sandstone is 6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 88.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.87% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Essentia Health Sandstone, with an emergency room, is just 6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- At 20.8 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- 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.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 125-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 3.6°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Pine County, MN is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 48/100
- Median home price
- $226k
- Property tax
- 0.87%
- Growing season
- 125 days (zone 4a)
- Annual rainfall
- 30.6"
- Broadband
- 88.6%
- Nearest hospital
- Essentia Health Sandstone, 6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Pine County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Pine County?
- Pine County is in USDA hardiness zone 4a with a 125-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.6°F, and average winter lows of 3.6°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $226,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 88.6% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Essentia Health Sandstone is 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 Pine 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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