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MN area data

Backus, MN

Backus, MN.

Population: 2,801 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Backus, MN is $297,312 — up 3.4% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $330,000 after a median 73 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with coldwave, strongwind, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.0% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$297,312

Median home value

+3.4%

1-year change

73

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$297,312
1-year appreciation
+3.4%
3-year appreciation
+15.5%
5-year appreciation
+39.2%
10-year appreciation
+121.3%
All-time peak (2026-05)
$297,864
House Price Index (state)
429.3 (+3.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$330,000
Median list price
$302,400
Median price per sqft
$169
1-year sale-price change
-9.6%
Median days on market
73 days
Homes sold (recent period)
9
For-sale inventory
24
Sale-to-list ratio
98.1%
Active listings
11
1-year forecast
+2.5%
New listings (monthly)
9

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$754/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$943/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,176/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,529/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,764/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
90.0 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$11.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
coldWave, strongWind, winterWeather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Low · lightning: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 40% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
90.8%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
41.0°F
Average high
51.0°F
Average low
31.0°F
USDA plant hardiness zone
4a (extreme annual low -30 to -25°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
32
Days with Good air quality
260
Days with Moderate air quality
94
Highest AQI recorded (year)
145

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
709
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
918

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
10
Nearest airport
Backus Municipal Airport (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) (35 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
CUYUNA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.7 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+257 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,986
Housing built before 1970
23.6%
Housing built 2000 or later
26.2%
Median annual property tax
$1,299
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
60.8%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
6,888
Average weekly wage
$707
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
247

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

BackusState medianUS median
Median home value$297,312$304,931$289,727
Median sale price$330,000$315,500$325,000
Median days on market73 days39 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,299$2,128$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Backus, MN?
$297,312.
What is the median sale price in Backus, MN?
$330,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Backus, MN?
Median days on market: 73 days.
What is typical rent in Backus, MN?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,176/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Backus, MN?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coldWave, strongWind, winterWeather.
Is Backus, MN in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in Backus, MN?
Risk to homes is higher than 40% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Backus, MN?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Backus, MN?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
Is Backus, MN walkable?
Walkability index: 6.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Backus, MN?
Good. Median AQI: 32. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Backus, MN?
Regional Price Parity: 90.0 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Backus

Selling a home in Backus, MN?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents