Carlton County, MN Rankings

Carlton County, Minnesota is a rural county located in the north-central portion of the state. The county has a population of 35,386 according to the 2019 U.S. census estimates and is known for its forests, lakes, and outdoor recreational activities such as hunting and fishing. According to BestPlaces rankings, Carlton County ranks highly in many areas including housing affordability, cost of living, education quality, job market growth rate and diversity index. The median home cost in Carlton County is $181,800 with residents spending an average of only 18% of their income on housing related costs. This is significantly lower than the national average of 33%. Additionally, Carlton County offers good public school options with a strong graduation rate of 89%. The unemployment rate here is also quite low at 3%, which is much lower than the national average of 3.7%. With a diversity index score of 0.561, Carlton County remains one of Minnesota’s most diverse communities with citizens representing many different ethnicities and backgrounds. Finally, this area has been ranked among the top five counties in Minnesota for job market growth rate over the past decade having seen an increase in available positions due to an influx of new businesses popping up around this area. Overall, these statistics demonstrate that Carlton County offers high quality living at an affordable price supplemented by ample employment opportunities and diverse communities which makes it one of the most desirable places to live in Minnesota.

Best Places ranks thousands of places to live based on analysis, data and key statistics from the U.S. Census and our Best Places To Live Expert Insights.