Knife Lake, MN housing market
Home prices around Knife Lake have risen about 47% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 3 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Knife Lake compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 47% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around Knife Lake rose 47% over the past 5 years, faster than across Minnesota (37%). Last year prices rose 2%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Knife Lake home at roughly $489,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Minnesota since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +2% | +134% | +127% |
| 2024 | +6.3% | +129% | +120% |
| 2023 | +11% | +115% | +113% |
| 2022 | +9.3% | +94% | +104% |
| 2021 | +12% | +78% | +82% |
| 2020 | +4.5% | +59% | +66% |
| 2019 | +2.8% | +52% | +61% |
| 2018 | +9.5% | +48% | +55% |
| 2017 | +8.1% | +35% | +46% |
| 2016 | +6% | +25% | +38% |
| 2015 | +11% | +18% | +32% |
| 2014 | −1% | +6.1% | +28% |
| 2013 | −0.6% | +7.1% | +21% |
| 2012 | −6.9% | +7.8% | +16% |
| 2011 | −6.2% | +16% | +18% |
| 2010 | −6.8% | +24% | +25% |
| 2009 | −7.2% | +32% | +33% |
| 2008 | −7.7% | +43% | +42% |
| 2007 | −2.1% | +55% | +48% |
| 2006 | +4.7% | +58% | +49% |
| 2005 | +7.8% | +51% | +45% |
| 2004 | +9.8% | +40% | +34% |
| 2003 | +2.6% | +27% | +23% |
| 2002 | +10% | +24% | +18% |
| 2001 | +13% | +13% | +9.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 55051, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
3 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 3 new homes in Knife Lake in 2025, all single-family houses. That's 2.2 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Minnesota (3.8). Over the past 10 years, Knife Lake has permitted 40 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Knife Lake gained 56 residents while 24 new homes were permitted: about 2.3 new residents per new home. Building and growth moved roughly in step. Across Minnesota: 2.2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 3 | 3 | 0 | $475,000 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $475,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $860,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $762,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $935,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $430,000 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $580,000 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $620,000 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $200,000 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $250,000 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $410,000 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $669,000 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $155,000 |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $520,000 |
| 2007 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $275,000 |
| 2006 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2004 | 13 | 13 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2003 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2002 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $400,000 |
| 2000 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.4 million |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Knife Lake and its neighbors
| Town | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knife Lake | +2%† | $990 | 3 | $100,568 |
| Whited | −12.4%† | $1,030 | 3 | $56,063 |
| Arthur | +2.2%† | $1,070 | 7 | $72,375 |
| Ann Lake | +2.6%† | $1,230 | — | $60,000 |
| Hillman | +4.1%† | $990 | — | $63,750 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
3.1 years of income
The typical Knife Lake home costs about 3.1 years of the town's median household income, less than across Minnesota (3.9 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $990
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Knife Lake is $990 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Knife Lake pay a median of $1,375. A two-bedroom takes about 12% of the town's median household income.
Studio $750 · 4 bedrooms $1,660
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (55051; Mille Lacs County, MN HUD Metro FMR Area), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.