RANK #532 / 996 · POP 363,985 · MN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.6%
Anoka, Minnesota, the county seat of Anoka County, is known as the "Halloween Capital of the World" due to its long-standing tradition of elaborate celebrations dating back to 1920. Anoka County is located in the northern part of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, approximately 20 miles north of downtown Minneapolis. The Rum River, a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, flows through the county and joins the Mississippi River in the city of Anoka. Commuting to Minneapolis is facilitated by the Northstar Commuter Rail, which has four stations within Anoka County, and various bus services. The county offers a mix of suburban and rural environments with over 11,500 acres of parks and trails.
Anoka County offers a quality of life that attracts families and young professionals, with many residents owning their homes. The public schools, including the large Anoka-Hennepin School District, are generally rated above average. The county's economy is experiencing steady growth, with industrial reinvestment and expanding commercial districts in towns like Coon Rapids and Blaine. Manufacturing and health services have seen strong job gains, and the county has a lower unemployment rate than the state average. Recent developments include the expansion of Green Bay Packaging in Coon Rapids and new housing projects in the city of Anoka.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 7.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Emergency Communications Center
Anoka County
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Government Center Parking Ramp Replacement
Anoka County
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Jail Replacement
Anoka County
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Rice Creek Compost Site Expansion
Anoka County Recycling & Resource Solutions (R&RS)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Blaine's 105th Ave Entertainment District Transformation
City of Blaine
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Anoka County has a Boom Town Index score of 47/100, ranking #532 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.6% and a median household income of $95,782, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Anoka County is $302,300 with median rent at $1,356/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3168, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.6%. Home values changed +2.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.34% of Anoka County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.