Elk River receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Elk River
Burnsville
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 27%
vs47 · Bottom 30%
Growth
53 · Top 45%
vs33 · Bottom 22%
Climate
54 · Bottom 3%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 44%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 18%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
66 · Top 32%
vs33 · Bottom 26%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
83 · Top 3%
vs69 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Elk River | Burnsville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,793 | 64,463 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $108,741 | $87,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,113 | $43,192 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 633/sq mi | 2,585/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $370,100 | $355,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,283 | $1,513 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 64.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 109 | 122 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -14.2% | -44.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 30.7" | 31.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 24.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.2 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 25 | 17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.61 | 12.65 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 58.1% | 34.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 62.0% | 39.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 22.9% | 55.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elk River
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Burnsville
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elk River
67
Your Score
63
Area Score
Burnsville
63
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elk River, MN · Burnsville, MN · How this is calculated: methodology