The Town FilesBig Lake, Minnesota
City in Sherburne County · population 11,686 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $330,200
- Household income
- $120,549
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 32.5
Big Lake is a city of 11,686 people in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $330,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 93% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Big Lake ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Lake is worth $330,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $120,549, which is more affordable than 79% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,340 a month. 86.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,340 | $991 |
| Median household income | $120,549 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Big Lake
| People | Big Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Big Lake
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 1, 1997 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 117 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Sherburne County since 1996
Sherburne County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 25, 1997 | Severe Storm | DR-1187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 1997 | Flood | DR-1175: Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Sherburne County
Sherburne County had 28,090 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Big Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Big Lake
6 public schools with 2,426 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIG LAKE SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 850 | 17.7 |
| INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 694 | 15.8 |
| BIG LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 645 | 15.7 |
| Big Lake Online 6-12 | 6-12 | 184 | — |
| SNW - Big Lake HS Transitions | 9-12 | 29 | — |
| Big Lake Online K-5 | K-5 | 24 | — |
Towns near Big Lake
- Big Lake, MN1.4 mi · 7,924 people · home $404,900
- Monticello, MN3.9 mi · 14,455 people · home $323,700
- Orrock, MN6.1 mi · 3,544 people · home $407,300
- Becker, MN6.7 mi · 5,496 people · home $418,700
- Monticello, MN6.9 mi · 3,309 people · home $370,800
- Becker, MN7.6 mi · 4,877 people · home $271,300
- Otsego, MN8.0 mi · 19,966 people · home $396,700
- Albertville, MN8.3 mi · 7,896 people · home $343,700
Big Lake questions
Is Big Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Lake scores better for retirees than 2% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 12%. 5.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Big Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Lake is valued at $330,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,549, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,340 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Lake?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Big Lake get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 1, 1997. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)