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City · 12,367 residents · Sherburne County, Minnesota

Big Lake , Minnesota

In Big Lake, a typical home is worth $330,200 and typical rent is $1,340 a month. Compared with all of Sherburne County, typical rent is 19% higher and typical household income is 14% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $330,200

    9% below the county

    About the same as Minnesota

    • Big Lake
    • Sherburne
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $1,340a month

    19% above the county

    5% above Minnesota

    • Big Lake
    • Sherburne
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $120,549a year

    14% above the county

    35% above Minnesota

    • Big Lake
    • Sherburne
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    87%

    4 points above the county

    15 points above Minnesota

    • Big Lake
    • Sherburne
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$375,302
2.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,547 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Big Lake is in Sherburne County. The FHA loan limit ($552,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Sherburne County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Big Lake apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Becker, the typical rent is $889: 34% less than in Big Lake ($1,340).

  2. Nearby, in Becker, the typical home value is $271,300: 18% less than in Big Lake ($330,200).

  3. The typical rent in Big Lake is $1,340 a month, 19% more than in Sherburne County as a whole ($1,127).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Big Lake

What homes there are in Big Lake, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 86% of homes here, against 79% in Sherburne County.

Year built

Homes in Big Lake are newer: the typical year built is 2000; in Sherburne County, 1996.

In Big Lake, 83% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Sherburne County (77%).

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,088 a month

Sherburne County: $2,050 a month

Without a mortgage

$745 a month

Sherburne County: $700 a month

Owners with a mortgage

79%

Sherburne County: 74%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Big Lake is $2,088 a month, near the figure in Sherburne County ($2,050).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Big Lake rose 71%; in Sherburne County, it rose 57%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Big Lake rose 38%, more than in Sherburne County (13%).

The typical household income in Big Lake rose 49% over that time; home values changed +71% and rent +38%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBig LakeSherburne CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%2.3%3.4%
People per household 3.052.782.432.53
Drive alone 75%75%69%69%
Carpool 13%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 10%14%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 3.05 on average, against 2.78 in Sherburne County.

Carpooling is common in Big Lake: 13% of workers get to work that way, against 9% in Sherburne County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Big Lake?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Big Lake, worth $330,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Big Lake, which is $120,549 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Sherburne County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Big Lake. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $11,557 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,774

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$324,219
Total interest
$466,475
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,576 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,813 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Tight

    $2,813 to $3,616 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,616 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Big Lake ($120,549 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,774
Principal & interest$2,196
Property tax$294
Home insurance$138
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$146

You need at least $11,557 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Big Lake and Sherburne County

Big Lake is in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Big Lake's own numbers

Typical home value
$330,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,340
Typical yearly household income
$120,549
Households that own their home
87%
Effective property tax rate
1.07%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Sherburne County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$552,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,734
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Sherburne County.

Everything about Sherburne County

Buying

Buying a home in Big Lake

A typical home in Big Lake is worth $330,200: 9% below the county and about the same as Minnesota. With the typical household income in Big Lake ($120,549 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Big Lake 2.7 years
  • Sherburne 3.4 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Sherburne County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Sherburne County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Sherburne County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.1% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +42% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +87% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Big Lake next to Sherburne County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Big Lake $330,200
  • Sherburne $361,400
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Big Lake $1,340
  • Sherburne $1,127
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Big Lake $120,549
  • Sherburne $105,466
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Big Lake next to Sherburne County and Minnesota
Measure Big Lake Sherburne County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $330,200 $361,400 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,340 $1,127 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $120,549 $105,466 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 87% 83% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,549 $3,560 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.07% 0.99% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 46% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Sherburne County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Big Lake

For a typical $330,200 home in Big Lake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Big Lake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,774a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,557
    Cash to close
    $21,463
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $146

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,714a month

    Down payment
    $16,510
    Cash to close
    $26,416
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $157

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,222a month

    Down payment
    $66,040
    Cash to close
    $75,946
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,527a month

    Down payment
    $49,530
    Cash to close
    $59,436
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Big Lake and for Sherburne County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Big Lake

1.07%of the home’s value each year

$3,549 a year for the typical owner in Big Lake.

  • Big Lake 1.07%
  • Sherburne 0.99%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Sherburne County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Sherburne County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.8%
248
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.8% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Big Lake

Typical rent in Big Lake is $1,340 a month: 19% above the county. In Big Lake, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Sherburne County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,734 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Sherburne County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,265 $24.33 $50,600
1 bedroom $1,427 $27.44 $57,080
2 bedrooms $1,734 $33.35 $69,360
3 bedrooms $2,264 $43.54 $90,560
4 bedrooms $2,538 $48.81 $101,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Big Lake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Big Lake is in ZIP code 55309.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,800: $66 more than the fair market rent for Sherburne County ($1,734).

  • 55309 $1,800$2,350

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Big Lake when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Big Lake

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Big Lake. These are the largest.

  • School View Square Multiple Building Addresses, Big Lake 55309 50 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 22 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2011
  • The Crossing at Big Lake Station Multiple Building Addresses, Big Lake 55309 33 low-income homes · 2 bd: 17 · 3 bd: 14 · 4 bd: 2 · In service since 2012 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Leightons Landing Multiple Building Addresses, Big Lake 55309 32 low-income homes · 2 bd: 17 · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 2015 · For families

See all 25 buildings in Sherburne County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Big Lake

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Sherburne County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Big Lake

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Big Lake or Sherburne County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Big Lake the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Big Lake

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Big Lake, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County

    7101 Northland Cir N, Brooklyn Park · 25 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (952) 697-1303

  • Capi USA

    5930 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center · 28 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Hmong.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (612) 721-0122

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Minneapolis, MN

    6300 Shingle Creek Pkwy Ste 145, Brooklyn Center · 28 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (763) 656-6222

All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Big Lake

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Big Lake

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Sherburne County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Minnesota Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Sherburne County

These cities are also in Sherburne County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Sherburne County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Big Lake, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Sherburne County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Big Lake.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Big Lake

Short answers with the numbers for Big Lake and all of Sherburne County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Big Lake?

The typical home value in Big Lake is $330,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Sherburne County it is $361,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Big Lake?

Typical rent in Big Lake is $1,340 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Sherburne County is $1,734.

What is the FHA loan limit in Big Lake?

Big Lake uses the FHA limit for all of Sherburne County (2026): $552,000 for a one-unit home and $1,061,550 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Big Lake?

The typical homeowner in Big Lake pays $3,549 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.07% of the home’s value; in Sherburne County, the rate is 0.99%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Big Lake?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Sherburne County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).