The Town FilesChisago City, Minnesota
City in Chisago County · population 5,558 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $413,000
- Household income
- $102,197
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.1
Chisago City is a city of 5,558 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $413,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 86% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 83% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 83% of Minnesota towns.
How Chisago City 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 Chisago City is worth $413,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $102,197, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,321 a month. 72.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chisago City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $413,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,321 | $991 |
| Median household income | $102,197 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Chisago City
| People | Chisago City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Chisago City
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chisago City since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 1965 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Chisago City itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Chisago City
7 public schools with 1,173 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKESIDE EL. | 2-5 | 762 | 16.9 |
| CHISAGO LAKES EL. | PK-1 | 382 | 13.2 |
| CHISAGO LAKES FAMILY CENTER | PK-PK | 29 | 14.5 |
| Wildcat Academy High School | 9-12 | — | — |
| Trio Wolf Creek Charter School | 9-12 | — | — |
| Wildcat Academy Middle School | 6-8 | — | — |
| Wildcat Academy Elementary School | K-5 | — | — |
Towns near Chisago City
- Wyoming, MN3.4 mi · 8,032 people · home $365,700
- Lindstrom, MN3.7 mi · 4,888 people · home $358,100
- Chisago Lake, MN7.0 mi · 4,818 people · home $437,700
- Linwood, MN7.7 mi · 5,334 people · home $380,100
- Forest Lake, MN8.7 mi · 20,611 people · home $393,500
- Scandia, MN9.3 mi · 3,984 people · home $475,800
- North Branch, MN9.7 mi · 10,787 people · home $322,300
- Osceola, WI11.3 mi · 2,765 people · home $230,600
Chisago City questions
Is Chisago City, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chisago City scores better for retirees than 56% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 17%. 27.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Chisago City?
The median owner-occupied home in Chisago City is valued at $413,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,197, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,321 a month.
What is the weather like in Chisago City?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Chisago City get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chisago City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 1965. 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)