The Town FilesCircle Pines, Minnesota
City in Anoka County · population 5,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,600
- Household income
- $101,800
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 38.4
Circle Pines is a city of 5,025 people in Anoka County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $293,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How Circle Pines 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 Circle Pines is worth $293,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $101,800, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,496 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Circle Pines | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,496 | $991 |
| Median household income | $101,800 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Circle Pines
| People | Circle Pines | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Circle Pines
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Circle Pines since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 3, 1983 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 436 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 199 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 11, 1963.
Severe weather in Anoka County since 1996
Anoka County has been included in 13 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1990: Severe Storms 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 Anoka County
Anoka County had 133,130 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,235 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Circle Pines itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Circle Pines
8 public schools with 2,999 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,997 | 23.2 |
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 507 | 14.1 |
| GOLDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 385 | 14.8 |
| CENTENNIAL AREA LEARNING CENTER | 7-12 | 84 | 28.0 |
| Journey | 12-12 | 18 | 18.0 |
| PROJECT SEARCH | 12-12 | 8 | 8.0 |
| Centennial Online Elementary | K-5 | — | — |
| Centennial High School Online | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Circle Pines
- Lino Lakes, MN2.1 mi · 21,399 people · home $407,200
- Blaine, MN3.4 mi · 70,222 people · home $352,400
- North Oaks, MN3.5 mi · 5,272 people · home $821,200
- Mounds View, MN3.9 mi · 13,249 people · home $324,200
- Shoreview, MN4.2 mi · 26,921 people · home $383,700
- Centerville, MN4.8 mi · 3,896 people · home $376,900
- Arden Hills, MN5.1 mi · 9,939 people · home $441,900
- Spring Lake Park, MN5.1 mi · 7,188 people · home $290,100
Circle Pines questions
Is Circle Pines, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Circle Pines scores better for retirees than 31% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 8%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Circle Pines?
The median owner-occupied home in Circle Pines is valued at $293,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,800, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,496 a month.
What is the weather like in Circle Pines?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 48.3 inches of snow.
Does Circle Pines get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Circle Pines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 3, 1983. 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)