Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Elk River, MN

    Is Elk River a good place to live?

    Watch Elk River

    Elk River ranks #11 of 43 Minnesota cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (63/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $338,300
    +10.7% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,269
    per month
    Household income
    $99,457
    median
    Unemployment
    2.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Elk River

    The median home value in Elk River is $338,300 and median rent is $1,269 a month, against a median household income of $99,457. Homes cost about 3.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Elk River crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Minnesota the 2025 rate was 226 violent and 1,429 property crimes per 100,000 people — #31 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Elk River, MN

    Elk River has about 26,367 residents, 2.7% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Elk River with

    Elk River vs MinneapolisElk River vs St. PaulElk River vs RochesterElk River vs BloomingtonElk River vs DuluthElk River vs Brooklyn ParkElk River vs PlymouthElk River vs Woodbury

    More: Where to move in Minnesota · Best counties in Minnesota

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report