Elk River
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The Elk River album
Outdoors in Elk River
Parks & trails →Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
About Elk River
City in Minnesota, United StatesElk River is a city and the county seat of Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States, about 34 miles northwest of Minneapolis. It is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The population was 25,835 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 29, in 2025, making Elk River the second-largest city in the Central Minnesota region after St. Cloud. U.S. Highways 10 and 169 and State Highway 101 are three of the main routes in Elk River. Elk River is 33.2 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 37.4 miles southeast of St. Cloud.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
How Elk River ranks
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Housing in Elk River
The typical Elk River home is worth about $399,000, up 2% in a year, 14% above the Minnesota typical home.
A strong seller's market
Safety in Elk River
Safety Grade B+
Elk River reports less crime per resident than 68% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
Work & commute in Elk River
Full picture →Most working residents leave Elk River for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Minneapolis (9%), Maple Grove (4%) and Plymouth (4%). Half commute less than 21 miles.
Health in Elk River
Health Grade A−
Healthier than 76% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.
Compared with Minnesota
of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 29 are too close to call.
What stands out
Care nearby
Natural hazards in Elk River
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 38% of U.S. communities.
Climate in Elk River
Full climate →Elk River has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Schools in Elk River
All Elk River schools →School Grade A
The public schools Elk River’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 87% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.
Elk River’s library
Library details →Famous people from Elk River
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Where Elk River is
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