BackusMN
A town of 264, settled in 1896.
Is Backus a good place to live?
Among 274 Minnesota towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Backus. Backus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
264 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Backus: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Backus, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Backus.
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Backus
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 83% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foothills Christian Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 30 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
In Backus, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Backus has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 79°F, Backus’ July high is below both Minnesota’s towns (82°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The typical home in Backus is valued at about $285K
The typical Backus home is worth about $285,000, up 2.7% in a year, 18% below the Minnesota typical home. At $720 a month, Backus’ median rent is below both the Minnesota town median ($1,196 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month).
| Backus | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $720 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Backus has 1.1 jobs for every working resident, and 122 people commute in
Most working residents leave Backus for work: only 3% work in town. 18% of Backus residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Backus grew to 125 in 2023, 34 more than in 2013.
| Backus | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $56,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.7% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Backus stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with more of its adults who have diabetes
15% of adults have diabetes in Backus. No town among the 272 in Minnesota we compare has a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Backus. 37% of adults have obesity in Backus.
| Backus | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 10% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 31% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Backus | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.7% | 76.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 5.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Backus
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Backus; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 Backus residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
About Backus
City in Minnesota, United States
Backus is a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 262 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,345 ft
- ZIP code
- 56435
- Area code
- 218
Questions about Backus
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Backus, MN a good place to live?
Backus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.