CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

44.82° N · 93.61° W · GEOID 2710972

Chaska

Carver County, Minnesota · part of the Minneapolis, MN metro

MinnesotaChaska, MNChaskaChaska

The short answer

Chaska is home to 28,706 people. Median household income is $110,956 a year and median rent is $1,553 a month, 16.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $404,700, about 3.6x annual median household income.

Chaska is defined by its growth. The population grew 9.7% since 2020, faster than in 83% of places its size. So far it looks sustainable: pay is keeping up with rent and rent burden is moderate. Also notable: OpenStreetMap shows 24.4 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 94% of places its size.

97OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Exceptional

Chaska scores better than 97% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 12th of 151 in Minnesota.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%67
Economy 20%82
Safety 20%78
Amenities 15%60
Education 10%75
Commute 10%63
Growth 5%82
Median gross rent
$1,553
14% above the median place
Median household income
$110,956
38% above the median place
Median home value
$404,700
27% above the median place
Unemployment
3.2%
35% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Chaska

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 16.8% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 83% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.
  • Affordability42% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 85% of the 986 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Chaska

Carver County gains about 6.4 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in6,264
Moved out5,599
Net+665

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Minnesota, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MinnesotaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$106K
Leavers$91K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Carver County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.2% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.4% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Carver County report $105,500 a year in income on average; those leaving, $91,100, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$62,100 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,553 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,504 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $404,700.
Getting to work
23 minutes each way on average; 20.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Sussex, WI matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
1.4%
30% below the median place
Moved here in the past year1
6.2%
8% above the median place
Income of households moving in8
$105,522
50% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year16.2%8% above
Moved from another state11.4%30% below
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure6.4above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$105,52250% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$91,08330% above
02

What it costs to live here

Owning with a mortgage costs about $951 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 85% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Chaska16.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$62,120
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.8%
18% below the median place
Home price to income
3.6x
4% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$89,300
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Chaska, $1,553 a month, and local prices for everything else (103.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Chaska, but easier on the budget

Places that match Chaska on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Sussex, WI9613.8% vs 16.8%$16,600Compare
Urbandale, IA9312.9% vs 16.8%$16,200Compare
Windsor, WI9313.7% vs 16.8%$17,700Compare
Antioch, IL9312.4% vs 16.8%$4,300Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Chaska.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Chaska? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
1996
1% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
41.9%
17% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$2,504
34% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,55314% above
Rent to income116.8%18% below
Property tax rate11.0%14% above
Home price to income13.6x4% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure104.84% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,7347% above
HUD area median income4County figure$131,50023% above
Property tax paid (median)1$4,19428% above
Median home value1$404,70027% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.8%18% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure36.1%30% below
Homeownership167.5%2% above
Renters paying 30%+141.9%17% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,50434% above
Vacant homes1County figure2.6%63% below
Median year built119961% above
03

Work and pay

Unemployment is 3.2%, 35% below the median place.

Unemployment1
3.2%
35% below the median place
Poverty rate1
5.8%
46% below the median place
Income per person1
$56,397
41% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Works from home20.0% +61%
Median household income$110,956 +38%
Mean commute23 min −8%
Commutes by transit0.8% −1%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$110,95638% above
Income per person1$56,39741% above
Unemployment13.2%35% below
Average annual pay6County figure$76,44216% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure13.3%259% above
Jobs6County figure40,64173% below
Poverty rate15.8%46% below
Mean commute123 min8% below
Works from home120.0%61% above
Commutes by transit10.8%1% below
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 2.9%, 55% below the median place.

No health insurance1
2.9%
55% below the median place
Population change since 20207
9.7%
above the median place (median 1.1%)
Homes with broadband1
95.5%
3% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher46.6% +45%
High school or higher94.2% +2%
Median age37.5 −4%
Born abroad7.1% −20%
Household size2.6 +3%
All 9 people measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population128,7061599th largest
Population change since 202079.7%above (median 1.1%)
Median age137.54% below
Bachelor's or higher146.6%45% above
High school or higher194.2%2% above
Household size12.63% above
Born abroad17.1%20% below
No health insurance12.9%55% below
Homes with broadband195.5%3% above
05

Life in Chaska

About 28 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 90% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1891. 10 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Brinkhaus Saloon Livery Barn listed 1980
  • DuToit, Frederick E., House listed 1980
  • Eder-Baer House listed 1980
  • Greiner, Frederick, House listed 1980
  • Herald Block listed 1980
  • Lewis, E. H., House listed 1980

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents24.4 2.4×
Playgrounds per 10k24.4 2.6×
Grocery stores per 10k2.1 −1%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k7.0 −37%
Libraries per 10k0.3 −60%
Named paths and bike trails28 km 13.8×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi1.9 8.9×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Mississippi National River and Recreation Area 29 miles
  • Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 61 miles
  • Pipestone National Monument 145 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars17.2 −17%
Shops20.6 −32%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.5 +10%
Doctors' offices and clinics15.5 −23%
Child care centers3.4 +48%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools14
25
178% above the median place
Students per teacher14
16.3
6% above the median place
Public school students14
5,880
20% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools1425178% above
Public school students145,88020% above
Students per teacher1416.36% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure17.217% below
Shops per 10k9County figure20.632% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure4.510% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure15.523% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure3.448% above
Parks per 10k1024.4140% above
Playgrounds per 10k1024.4159% above
Grocery stores per 10k102.11% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k107.037% below
Libraries per 10k100.360% below
Named paths and bike trails1027.6above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi101.9above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1129.25% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles11150% below
National Register listings121023% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 107, 44% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
107
44% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
540
56% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low15
6°F
77% below the median place
Average temperature15
45°F
18% below the median place
Natural hazard risk16
59.7
35% below the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureChaskaAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure82°F5% below
January average low15County figure6°F77% below
Average temperature15County figure45°F18% below
Annual precipitation15County figure31.9 in27% below
Natural hazard risk16County figure59.735% below
Tornado risk16County figure79.52% below
Wildfire risk16County figure39.336% below
Heat wave risk16County figure73.718% below
Median air quality index17Metro figure479% above
Good air days17Metro figure55.1%20% below
08

Chaska in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 17% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Chaska does better than 66% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 54%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,553/mo (2024)$2,000/mo$1,640 to $2,440/mo+4.3%
Median household income$110,956 (2024)$141,000$119,000 to $167,000+4.1%
Median home value$404,700 (2024)$582,000$422,000 to $801,000+6.2%
Population30,513 (2025)32,26030,950 to 33,640+1.1%

The median home would be worth 4.1 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.6 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Chaska

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Katy, TX$1,602$114,912Compare
Middletown, DE$1,583$112,831Compare
Woodridge, IL$1,494$101,000Compare
Chelsea, AL$1,414$115,337Compare
Chelsea, ALWoodridge, ILMiddletown, DEKaty, TXChaska, MNChaskaKatyMiddletownWoodridgeChelseaChaskaKatyMiddletownWoodridgeChelsea

Places built like Chaska

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Chaska performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Chaska, MN16.8%5.4%/yr9.7%
Papillion, NE13.6%6.7%/yr-0.6%Compare
Liberty, MO15.7%2.9%/yr3.9%Compare
Apple Valley, MN21.4%1.8%/yr-2.0%Compare
Urbandale, IA12.9%4.4%/yr6.6%Compare
Forest Lake, MN18.3%3.1%/yr1.6%Compare
Marion, IA13.3%3.8%/yr2.8%Compare

Common questions

Is Chaska a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 97 out of 100, better than 97% of the places we rate and 12th of 151 in Minnesota. The median rent takes 16.8% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 83% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. 42% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 85% of the 986 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 73 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Chaska expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $404,700.

What salary do you need to live in Chaska?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $62,120 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Chaska safe?

There were 107 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Chaska?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Katy, TX, Middletown, DE, Woodridge, IL and Chelsea, AL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Chaska with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Chaska itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/chaska-minnesota

Citytistics. “Chaska, Minnesota.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/chaska-minnesota/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.