Chisago City 1996, 1996
Chisago City’s story
170 years in pictures
Census counts: 92 in 1880, 5,558 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1996 and 2 maps from 1955 on.
- 1856Chisago City is settled
Chisago CityMN
Public schools that outperform most of Minnesota.
6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Peter Michael Grund (petermgrund as found on Flickr) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
5,955
2025 Census estimate · +2.7% since 2020
Typical home
$441K
+2% in a year
Household income
$102K
median
Median age
44.1
years
Jobs based here
1,492
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#140 of 271 in MN
Is Chisago City a good place to live?
Chisago City is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades A− overall, ranked 140th of 271 in Minnesota, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools rank ahead of 80% of Minnesota towns. It also does better than most on health: it is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $440K for a typical one and 4.4 times the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household income. 28% of residents are 65 or older in Chisago City, above both the Minnesota town median (17%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). The biggest park or preserve is Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, at 1,584 acres.
StrongestA−Schools
What makes Chisago City stand out
Where Chisago City beats most towns.
A growing town
Chisago City has grown 15% since 2010
4,967 counted in 2010 and 5,558 in 2020; an estimated 5,955 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Chisago City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Chisago City is from typical.
SchoolsA−Open →HealthFairview Lakes Health Services 5.4 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →Cost of livingC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 11.9% of households have no car; 1.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC+Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Chisago City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chisago City, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChisago City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Chisago City’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereChisago County Gov CenterChisago County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes55013, 55025, 5507355013 91% · 55025 6% · 55073 3%Census 2020
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 Chisago City.
Chisago City has cooler summers than most of the country, though not than most of Minnesota and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in Minnesota; it also has commutes longer than most of Minnesota.
SchoolsA−
Chisago City’s grade for schools is an A−
Its public schools are run by the Chisago Lakes School District. Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
80%of MN districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside El.Largest public elementary schoolGrades 2–5 | Grades 2–5 | 804 | A− |
| Trio Wolf Creek Charter SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | – | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Chisago City’s workers commute out
The average commute for its 2,925 working residents takes 30 minutes, against 22.7 across Minnesota.
Most working residents leave Chisago City for work: only 6% work in town. Chisago City’s average trip to work is 30 minutes. Jobs based in Chisago City grew to 1,492 in 2023, 344 more than in 2013.
6%work in town
| Chisago City | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.7% | 9.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Chisago City6%
Minneapolis8%
St. Paul7%
Forest Lake6%
Edina4%
27 mi
median commute distance
1,492
jobs based in Chisago City
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
Chisago City’s grade for health is a B+
Within Minnesota it is less healthy than 54% of the 271 graded towns: Minnesota sets a high bar. Against the 8,253 U.S. towns with household incomes like Chisago City’s, it is healthier than 58%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
27% of Chisago City adults feel lonely. Chisago City beats the Minnesota average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 15% of Chisago City adults report frequent mental distress.
73%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Chisago City | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 77% | 75% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
5 better22 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Chisago City | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 6% | 7.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.9% | 8.9% |
Fairview Lakes Health Services
5.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
46th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C+
Chisago City’s grade for cost of living is a C+
61.8% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.1% across Minnesota.
The typical Chisago City home is worth about $441,000, up 2% in a year, 26% above the Minnesota typical home.
$441KZillow home value
Typical home value
Chisago City$441K
Minnesota$349K
+2%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Older than Minnesota overall
The median age in Chisago City is 44.1 years. Chisago City has grown 2.7% since 2020, to 5,955 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 31% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
44.1median age · MN 38.8
| Chisago City | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 years | 39.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 31% | 34% | 29% |
Chisago CityMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school28%
Some college22%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.1 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Chisago City | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.2% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.9% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.5% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.6% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 13% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.5% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 22% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15.3% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Chisago City faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 68% of U.S. communities.
32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Chisago City has snowy winters and pleasant summers
July afternoons average 82.1°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 77% of Minnesota places with climate records; January nights average 4.8°.
Chisago City has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. About 52 inches of snow falls in a winter.
52″snow a winter
| Chisago City | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 5°F | 6°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring33–55°
Summer58–80°
Fall38–57°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
#202for trails in MN
| Chisago City | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
0.9%
conserved · 111 of 13,004 acres
3.2 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Paradise Park | 0.3 mi | 8 |
| 2. Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area | — | 1,584 |
| 3. Sunrise Unit | — | 1,584 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 72 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 65 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chisago City. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
31 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
32 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
31 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
31 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz Field
39 mi Theme parkNickelodeon UniverseSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0 · Nickelodeon Universe: Tyler Vigen, CC BY 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chisago City
19pages on Chisago City
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Chisago City
About 5 of every 100 Chisago City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Chisago City for work
Where Chisago City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,492jobs based in Chisago City
6%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Chisago City
City in Minnesota, United States
Chisago City ( shih-SAH-goh) is a city in Chisago County, Minnesota, United States, approximately 35 miles northeast of downtown Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The population was 5,558 at the 2020 census. The city is between the twin lakes of Chisago Lake and Green Lake, and is part of the Chisago lakes region.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 15 sq mi
- Elevation
- 925 ft
- ZIP code
- 55013
- Area code
- 651
Chisago City’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Chisago City.
Stacy next door grades lower for schools (B− to Chisago City’s A−) and higher for cost of living (B+ to C+).
Chisago Lake TownshipStacyWyomingForest LakeLindstromScandiaChisago City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisago City | #140 | A− | C+ | — | A− | B+ |
| Chisago Lake Township | #103 | A− | B− | — | A− | A− |
| Stacy | #104 | A− | B+ | — | B− | B+ |
| Wyoming | #41 | A | B | A− | B+ | A |
| Forest Lake | #168 | B+ | C+ | B− | B | A− |
| Lindstrom | #53 | A | B | — | A− | A− |
| Scandia | #152 | B+ | C+ | — | B | A− |
Chisago City, Chisago Lake Township, Stacy, Lindstrom and Scandia report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Chisago City with a neighbor →
Questions about Chisago City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chisago City, MN a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Chisago City grades A− overall, better than 75% of U.S. towns and #140 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools.
Is Chisago City, MN expensive?
Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.