The Town FilesRush City, Minnesota
City in Chisago County · population 3,228 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,100
- Household income
- $58,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 38.5
Rush City is a city of 3,228 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $233,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 83% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 79% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Minnesota towns.
How Rush City ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rush City is worth $233,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $58,760, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rush City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $983 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,760 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rush City
| People | Rush City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Rush City
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 1.2°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rush City since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 21, 1957 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Rush City itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Rush City
3 public schools with 871 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.E. JACOBSON ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 460 | 11.2 |
| RUSH CITY SECONDARY | 7-12 | 411 | 15.2 |
| MN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY-RUSH CITY | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Rush City
- Pine City, MN10.6 mi · 3,130 people · home $186,900
- North Branch, MN12.3 mi · 10,787 people · home $322,300
- Pokegama, MN12.9 mi · 2,825 people · home $316,000
- Cambridge, MN15.4 mi · 9,611 people · home $251,600
- Isanti, MN19.1 mi · 6,804 people · home $290,600
- Chisago Lake, MN20.0 mi · 4,818 people · home $437,700
- Mora, MN20.4 mi · 3,665 people · home $171,800
- Bradford, MN21.4 mi · 3,427 people · home $336,800
Rush City questions
Is Rush City, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rush City scores better for retirees than 6% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 42%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Rush City?
The median owner-occupied home in Rush City is valued at $233,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,760, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Rush City?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 1.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.4 inches of snow.
Does Rush City get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rush City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 21, 1957. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)