Pope County
MN · Pop. 11,363 · Rural County
Pope County is a rural county in Minnesota, spanning 675 square miles with 11,363 residents at a density of 16.8 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $243,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.79% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 140-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F and average winter lows of 5.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 25.7 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Glacial Ridge Hospital is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.79% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Glacial Ridge Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 4.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- At 16.8 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- A 140-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 5.2°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Pope County, MN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 63/100
- Median home price
- $243k
- Property tax
- 0.79%
- Growing season
- 140 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 25.7"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Glacial Ridge Hospital, 4.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Pope County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Pope County?
- Pope County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 140-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F, and average winter lows of 5.2°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $243,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.79%. 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?
- Glacial Ridge Hospital is 4.8 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 Pope 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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