The Town FilesNorth Branch, Minnesota
City in Chisago County · population 10,787 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,300
- Household income
- $90,456
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.5
North Branch is a city of 10,787 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $322,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 81% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 80% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Minnesota towns.
How North Branch 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 North Branch is worth $322,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $90,456, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,308 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Branch | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,308 | $991 |
| Median household income | $90,456 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Branch
| People | North Branch | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in North Branch
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows -0.1°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Branch since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 21, 1957 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 19, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 20, 2007.
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 North Branch itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in North Branch
7 public schools with 2,860 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise River Elementary School | 1-5 | 945 | 17.8 |
| North Branch Area High School | 9-12 | 815 | 20.4 |
| North Branch Area Middle School | 6-8 | 633 | 21.8 |
| North Branch Area Education Center | PK-K | 226 | 13.3 |
| Phoenix Academy Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 164 | 20.5 |
| Norse Area Learning Center | 7-12 | 52 | 17.3 |
| Chisago County Schools' Life Work C | 9-12 | 25 | 8.3 |
Towns near North Branch
- Chisago City, MN9.7 mi · 5,558 people · home $413,000
- Chisago Lake, MN9.9 mi · 4,818 people · home $437,700
- Lindstrom, MN10.1 mi · 4,888 people · home $358,100
- Linwood, MN11.3 mi · 5,334 people · home $380,100
- Wyoming, MN11.8 mi · 8,032 people · home $365,700
- Rush City, MN12.3 mi · 3,228 people · home $233,100
- Cambridge, MN13.6 mi · 9,611 people · home $251,600
- Isanti, MN14.0 mi · 6,804 people · home $290,600
North Branch questions
Is North Branch, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Branch scores better for retirees than 14% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 34%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in North Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in North Branch is valued at $322,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,456, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,308 a month.
What is the weather like in North Branch?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows -0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 49.1 inches of snow.
Does North Branch get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Branch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 21, 1957. 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)