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Traverse County

MN · Pop. 3,279 · Rural County

88/100Homestead Score

Traverse County sits in Minnesota across 574 square miles, home to 3,279 people at 5.7 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $110,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.97%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F and average winter lows of 4°F. Annual rainfall averages 24.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Sanford Medical Center Wheaton is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes.

Property Tax: 0.97%
Growing Season: 148 days
Broadband: 100%
Density: 5.7/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $110,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Sanford Medical Center Wheaton, with an emergency room, is just 3 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 5.7 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.

Cons

  • A 148-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Average winter lows of 4°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
  • At 5.7 people per square mile, services, labor, and suppliers are spread thin.

At a glance

Traverse County, MN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score
88/100
Median home price
$110k
Property tax
0.97%
Growing season
148 days (zone 4b)
Annual rainfall
24.9"
Broadband
100%
Nearest hospital
Sanford Medical Center Wheaton, 3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.97%
Median Household Income$65,931
Poverty Rate10.1%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$110K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone4b
Growing Season148 days
Annual Rainfall24.9 inches
Avg Summer High80.2°F
Avg Winter Low4°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought1/10
Wildfire2/10
Tornado2/10
Flood2/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalSanford Medical Center Wheaton (3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage100%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.4%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Traverse County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Traverse County?
Traverse County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F, and average winter lows of 4°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $110,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.97%. 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?
Sanford Medical Center Wheaton is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Traverse 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.