Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Minnesota

Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Every Minnesota county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Clearwater County leads at 80/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Minnesota ranks #24 for homesteading and #18 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Minnesota

    How Minnesota treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 87 Minnesota counties, ranked

    1. 1Clearwater County80
    2. 2Kanabec County80
    3. 3Carlton County78
    4. 4Crow Wing County78
    5. 5Mahnomen County77
    6. 6Wadena County76
    7. 7Becker County76
    8. 8Itasca County76
    9. 9Aitkin County75
    10. 10Beltrami County75
    11. 11Pine County75
    12. 12Mille Lacs County74
    13. 13Fillmore County74
    14. 14Hubbard County74
    15. 15Otter Tail County73
    16. 16Todd County73
    17. 17Cass County73
    18. 18Douglas County71
    19. 19St. Louis County70
    20. 20Morrison County70
    21. 21Lake County69
    22. 22Roseau County69
    23. 23Winona County68
    24. 24Marshall County67
    25. 25Houston County66
    26. 26Red Lake County66
    27. 27Lake of the Woods County65
    28. 28Koochiching County65
    29. 29Cook County64
    30. 30Stearns County63
    31. 31Wabasha County62
    32. 32Pennington County61
    33. 33Kittson County61
    34. 34Meeker County61
    35. 35Chisago County61
    36. 36Cottonwood County60
    37. 37Swift County59
    38. 38Traverse County59
    39. 39Nicollet County59
    40. 40Grant County59
    41. 41Big Stone County58
    42. 42Isanti County58
    43. 43Stevens County57
    44. 44Lincoln County57
    45. 45Martin County56
    46. 46Chippewa County56
    47. 47Murray County56
    48. 48Watonwan County56
    49. 49Benton County56
    50. 50Lac qui Parle County55
    51. 51Renville County55
    52. 52Pope County55
    53. 53Wilkin County55
    54. 54Brown County54
    55. 55Norman County54
    56. 56Kandiyohi County54
    57. 57Olmsted County54
    58. 58Lyon County54
    59. 59Redwood County53
    60. 60Faribault County53
    61. 61Wright County53
    62. 62Jackson County52
    63. 63Polk County52
    64. 64Blue Earth County51
    65. 65Goodhue County51
    66. 66Yellow Medicine County51
    67. 67McLeod County51
    68. 68Freeborn County50
    69. 69Sibley County50
    70. 70Mower County50
    71. 71Waseca County49
    72. 72Rice County49
    73. 73Le Sueur County49
    74. 74Carver County49
    75. 75Nobles County47
    76. 76Dodge County47
    77. 77Sherburne County47
    78. 78Clay County47
    79. 79Anoka County44
    80. 80Pipestone County44
    81. 81Steele County44
    82. 82Rock County43
    83. 83Scott County43
    84. 84Washington County42
    85. 85Ramsey County40
    86. 86Dakota County40
    87. 87Hennepin County40

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