Big Lake, MN
Census place 2705752 · pop 12,367
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
33 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
38.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$330,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
26.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.07% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
17.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
132 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
22.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
64/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
5.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$120,549 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
387 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+13.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
86.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.30 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
Not measured for Big Lake: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Big Lake, MN a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Big Lake scores 63/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is income inequality and its weakest is commute time. Minnesota overall ranks #5 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Big Lake, MN?
- Big Lake reports 132 violent crimes per 100k and 387 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Big Lake, MN expensive to live in?
- Big Lake has a median home value of $330,200 — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Big Lake, MN?
- Its weakest measured area is commute time (33 min) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Big Lake, MN best at?
- Its strongest measured area is income inequality (0.30) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.