Chisago County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Chisago County, Minnesota had an estimated 59,105 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 56,618, across 415 square miles. County output reached $2.24 bn in 2024, 1,358 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 90 7(a) approvals worth $32.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Chisago County
How many people live in Chisago County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202457,991
- Households21,364
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$99,400
- Median age40.8
- Median gross rent$1,186 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$351,900
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over40,943
- Population under 1812,958
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over9,910
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6435,123
- Civilian labor force30,893
- Unemployment rate4.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.6 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties18th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included919th of 3,222
Chisago County is the 18th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Chisago County
Is Chisago County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202459,105
- Census 2020 base population56,618
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.39 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024448
- Births, 2024568
- Deaths, 2024443
- Natural change, 2024125
- Net domestic migration, 2024272
- Net international migration, 202454
- Total net migration, 2024326
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,940
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents628th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.39 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Chisago County
Where are people moving to Chisago County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,924
- People arriving, from those returns3,409
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,722
- Net household movement202
- Adjusted gross income arriving$143.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$24.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$74,784
- Average income of a leaving household$69,073
- Largest single originWashington County (365 households)
- Largest single destinationWashington County (257 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 365 | 652 | $32.6 m |
| Anoka County | 290 | 515 | $24.4 m |
| Ramsey County | 282 | 509 | $17.9 m |
| Hennepin County | 159 | 297 | $12.2 m |
| Isanti County | 137 | 259 | $11.0 m |
| Dakota County | 97 | 163 | $7.7 m |
| Pine County | 69 | 113 | $5.1 m |
| Polk County | 58 | 107 | $3.0 m |
Households arriving report $5,711 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Washington County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Chisago County
What is the Chisago County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.24 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.13 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.2 percent
- GDP change over five years33.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes29th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1187th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,657
Output grew 5.2 percent in the latest year and 33.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Chisago County
Employment by industry in Chisago County
- Covered employment, annual average16,091
- Establishments reporting1,401
- Average annual pay$57,806
- Average weekly wage$1,112
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,792
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$59,055
- Manufacturing, employment2,408
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,853
- Retail trade, employment1,732
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,611
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,396
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,761
- Construction, employment1,185
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment700
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,792 | 239 | $59,055 |
| Manufacturing | 2,408 | 92 | $64,853 |
| Retail trade | 1,732 | 149 | $39,611 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,396 | 96 | $22,761 |
| Construction | 1,185 | 214 | $83,123 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 700 | 85 | $124,758 |
| Other services, except public administration | 499 | 152 | $37,613 |
| Wholesale trade | 437 | 41 | $58,478 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,792 jobs, 23.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Chisago County
How many businesses are in Chisago County?
- Establishments, all industries1,358
- Employment at those establishments15,081
- Annual payroll$794.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chisago County
Building permits in Chisago County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024362
- Declared construction value permitted$82.7 m
- Single family units authorized233
- Multifamily units authorized129
- Multifamily share of units35.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$228,438
- Units authorized per 1,000 households16.9
Single-family homes are 64.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Chisago County
SBA loans in Chisago County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded90
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$32.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$363,670
- Median 7(a) approval$165,050
- 10th percentile approval$21,710
- 90th percentile approval$1,003,450
- Largest single approval$2,435,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,202
- Jobs per approval13.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active30
- Distinct industries receiving approvals56
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter75
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals4.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countAll Other Specialty Trade Contractors (6)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (19)
- 504 approvals recorded46
- 504 gross approval dollars$29.4 m
- Average 504 approval$638,913
- Median 504 approval$330,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval8.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.1
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (18)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$62.1 m
The average approval of $363,670 sits well above the median of $165,050, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chisago County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Chisago County
Do SBA loans in Chisago County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded30
- Paid in full27
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans10.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Paid in full27
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Of the 30 loans that have reached a final outcome, 10.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chisago County
SBA lending by place in Chisago County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending11
- Chisago City, approvals22
- North Branch, approvals19
- Wyoming, approvals16
- Lindstrom, approvals9
- Rush City, approvals7
- Harris, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Chisago City | 22 | $9,457,300 |
| North Branch | 19 | $7,672,200 |
| Wyoming | 16 | $5,416,600 |
| Lindstrom | 9 | $1,778,200 |
| Rush City | 7 | $2,598,400 |
| Harris | 4 | $1,105,700 |
| Forest Lake | 3 | $1,494,000 |
| Taylors Falls | 3 | $1,181,900 |
| 3 other borrower cities | 7 | $2,026,000 |
Chisago City accounts for 22 approvals against 19 in North Branch. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chisago County
How large is Chisago County?
- Land area415 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties82nd of 87
- Width, east to west23.2 mi
- Height, north to south30 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land140
- Establishments per square mile3.27
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chisago County
Flood risk in Chisago County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Chisago County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270682
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Chisago County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Chisago County (community 270682), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Chisago County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 90.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Chisago County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Chisago County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202457,991
- Households21,364
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$99,400
- Median age40.8
Common questions
Chisago County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Chisago County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 59,105 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 57,991, in 21,364 households, ranking 18th of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Chisago County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.39 percent since the 2020 census base of 56,618, to 59,105 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 568 births against 443 deaths, with net migration of 326. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Chisago County?
$99,400. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $351,900, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,186 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Chisago County?
1,358 establishments, employing 15,081 people with an annual payroll of $794.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Chisago County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,792 jobs, 23.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,091 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,806, or $1,112 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Chisago County?
90 7(a) approvals totaling $32.7 m since FY2020, across 30 lenders, with a median approval of $165,050, plus 46 504 approvals worth $29.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Chisago County get paid back?
Of the 30 loans that have reached a final outcome, 27 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 10.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Chisago County?
362 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $82.7 m. Multifamily was 35.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Chisago County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Chisago County come from?
The largest single origin is Washington County, with 365 households. Arriving households report an average income of $74,784 against $69,073 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Chisago County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Chisago County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Chisago County
Cities and places in Chisago.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Chisago County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch | city | 11,565 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Wyoming | city | 8,087 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Chisago City | city | 5,899 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Lindstrom | city | 4,978 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Stacy | city | 4,384 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Rush City | city | 3,295 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Shafer | city | 1,186 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Taylors Falls | city | 1,167 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Harris | city | 776 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Center City | city | 651 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 90 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Chisago County, the largest being Forest Lake (3). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.