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 #26 for homesteading and #20 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 County76
    3. 3Beltrami County75
    4. 4Carlton County75
    5. 5Crow Wing County75
    6. 6Itasca County74
    7. 7Mahnomen County73
    8. 8Wadena County72
    9. 9Aitkin County72
    10. 10Becker County72
    11. 11Pine County71
    12. 12Hubbard County71
    13. 13St. Louis County71
    14. 14Fillmore County71
    15. 15Mille Lacs County70
    16. 16Otter Tail County70
    17. 17Todd County69
    18. 18Cass County69
    19. 19Lake County69
    20. 20Douglas County67
    21. 21Roseau County67
    22. 22Morrison County66
    23. 23Winona County65
    24. 24Marshall County65
    25. 25Lake of the Woods County64
    26. 26Houston County63
    27. 27Red Lake County63
    28. 28Koochiching County62
    29. 29Cook County62
    30. 30Kittson County60
    31. 31Stearns County59
    32. 32Wabasha County58
    33. 33Pennington County58
    34. 34Meeker County57
    35. 35Chisago County57
    36. 36Cottonwood County57
    37. 37Swift County56
    38. 38Traverse County56
    39. 39Big Stone County56
    40. 40Grant County56
    41. 41Nicollet County55
    42. 42Isanti County54
    43. 43Lincoln County54
    44. 44Stevens County54
    45. 45Murray County53
    46. 46Chippewa County53
    47. 47Martin County53
    48. 48Lac qui Parle County53
    49. 49Watonwan County53
    50. 50Renville County52
    51. 51Pope County52
    52. 52Benton County52
    53. 53Wilkin County52
    54. 54Brown County51
    55. 55Norman County51
    56. 56Lyon County51
    57. 57Kandiyohi County51
    58. 58Wright County50
    59. 59Olmsted County50
    60. 60Redwood County50
    61. 61Faribault County50
    62. 62Jackson County50
    63. 63Polk County49
    64. 64Blue Earth County48
    65. 65Yellow Medicine County48
    66. 66Goodhue County47
    67. 67McLeod County47
    68. 68Mower County47
    69. 69Sibley County47
    70. 70Freeborn County47
    71. 71Waseca County46
    72. 72Carver County46
    73. 73Le Sueur County46
    74. 74Rice County45
    75. 75Nobles County45
    76. 76Dodge County44
    77. 77Clay County44
    78. 78Sherburne County44
    79. 79Anoka County42
    80. 80Pipestone County41
    81. 81Rock County40
    82. 82Steele County40
    83. 83Scott County40
    84. 84Washington County39
    85. 85Ramsey County38
    86. 86Hennepin County37
    87. 87Dakota County37

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