Living in Elk River, MN
Suburb in Minnesota
Elk River is a suburb in Minnesota, home to about 26,000 people, with 1.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is Elk River a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Dog-friendly: 6 dog parks within 9 mi
👎 Cons
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Higher taxes: about $2,443 state income tax per resident, 1.18% property tax
- Fewer graduates: 31% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Elk River ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Elk River: common questions
What is the cost of living in Elk River?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $378k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,260 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 105, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Elk River?
Minnesota collects about $2,443 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.18% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Elk River safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).
How are the schools in Elk River?
Public schools in Elk River test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 19 students per teacher.
What is the weather like in Elk River?
Elk River has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 26°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 36″ of snow a year.
Does Elk River get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and strong wind: 0 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.56 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Elk River?
The nearest major airport is MSP, about 35 mi away.
How Elk River scores
Each bar compares Elk River with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
Places like Elk River
These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.
The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).
Nearby
See all the best places to live in Minnesota.
Is Elk River right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.