Sherburne County, Minnesota Eviction Risk: Moderate

Sherburne County scores 4.6/10 (Moderate) on the EvictionRiskMap scale, averaged across 7 cities with a combined population of roughly 64,800. That places it at rank 26 of 87 Minnesota counties, meaning 25 counties are riskier and 61 are less risky, putting Sherburne in the higher-risk third of the state. For landlords evaluating this market, the county sits in a workable middle band, but the aggregate figure conceals real variation that matters at the asset level. Average rent runs $1,256 per month, and renters represent about 19.2% of households, keeping tenant turnover and lease-up dynamics relatively contained compared to denser urban markets.

The intra-county range tells the more important story: individual cities span from 3.6/10 to 5.5/10, a spread of nearly two full points on the same 10-point scale. A landlord with units in the lowest-risk city faces materially different operating conditions than one in the highest-risk, even though both properties fall under the same Minnesota eviction laws state statutes and county-level services. Underwriting based on the county average alone will misjudge risk in either direction.

The cities inside Sherburne County

Elk River is the county seat and by far the largest city, with a population of 26,793 and the highest risk score in the county at 5.5/10. Princeton follows at 4.5/10 (population 5,274), and both Albertville and Zimmerman score 4.3/10. Investors concentrating portfolios in Elk River or Princeton should price in somewhat tighter operating margins and a higher likelihood of contested tenancies relative to the county norm.

On the lower end, Big Lake scores 4.9/10 with a population of 12,367, making it the most landlord-favorable city in the county by a clear margin. Becker scores 4.5/10. These two communities offer meaningfully lower eviction-risk profiles and may represent more defensive holdings for investors who prioritize stability over yield. Clear Lake scores exactly at the county average, 4.6/10, and with only 579 residents it represents a thin, illiquid submarket regardless of its risk rating.

State-level laws that apply here

Every property in Sherburne County operates under Minnesota state law. For nonpayment of rent, landlords must serve a 14-day notice under Minn. Stat. § 504B.291 before filing. Material lease violations and month-to-month terminations each require a 30-day notice under Minn. Stat. § 504B.135. Minnesota does not require just cause to end a tenancy, and there is no statewide rent cap formula in effect, which is a meaningful advantage over states with those restrictions. Reviewing the full Minnesota eviction process gives landlords a clearer picture of the procedural timeline before committing capital to the market.

On cost, the Minnesota eviction costs stack up as follows: court filing fees run $310 to $410, sheriff lockout fees add $55 to $150, and attorney fees for a contested matter range from $750 to $3,000. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 30 to 60 days; contested ones can extend to 60 to 150 days. Landlords should also note that Minnesota requires 24 hours advance notice before entering an occupied unit, and source-of-income is a protected class under state fair housing rules administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

With an average poverty rate of 6% and renters making up roughly 19.2% of households, Sherburne County's tenant base is relatively stable, but risk concentrates sharply in specific cities, as the grid above makes clear.