The Town FilesSugar Bush, Minnesota
Township in Becker County · population 537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,000
- Household income
- $62,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.7
Sugar Bush is a township of 537 people in Becker County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $267,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How Sugar Bush 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 Sugar Bush is worth $267,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $62,841, which is more affordable than 18% of Minnesota towns. 96.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sugar Bush | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $62,841 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 96.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.8% | — |
Who lives in Sugar Bush
| People | Sugar Bush | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Sugar Bush
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows -3.6°F. About 29.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sugar Bush since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 24, 2022 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Becker County since 1996
Becker County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 5, 2006 | Flood | DR-1648: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Becker County
Becker County had 15,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,242 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Sugar Bush itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Sugar Bush
- Holmesville, MN5.3 mi · 543 people · home $304,800
- Height of Land, MN9.8 mi · 682 people · home $263,500
- Richwood, MN10.8 mi · 651 people · home $321,900
- Erie, MN10.8 mi · 1,717 people · home $307,300
- White Earth, MN11.0 mi · 522 people · home —
- White Earth, MN11.6 mi · 765 people · home $163,200
- Detroit, MN13.1 mi · 2,093 people · home $409,600
- Detroit Lakes, MN15.6 mi · 9,869 people · home $265,800
Sugar Bush questions
Is Sugar Bush, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sugar Bush scores better for retirees than 17% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 50%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Sugar Bush?
The median owner-occupied home in Sugar Bush is valued at $267,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,841, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sugar Bush?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows -3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does Sugar Bush get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sugar Bush since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 24, 2022. 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)