Beyond the Open Pits: 12 Minnesota Iron Range Towns With Values Under $160,000

Median owner-estimated home values start at $86,800 in these Minnesota Iron Range communities. County agricultural land-and-building averages were $3,363 an acre in Itasca County and $3,927 in St. Louis County during the 2022 Census of Agriculture. This countdown covers 12 incorporated towns with ACS populations of at least 500. We examine home values, vacancies, rents where reliable, wells, septic permits, hospitals, broadband and severe northern winters. Public sources include the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 ACS, USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, Minnesota health, pollution-control and natural-resource agencies, NOAA climate normals, the FCC broadband map, local governments and hospital systems. Checked October 2026. CHAPTERS 0:00 Beyond the open pits 1:33 12. Ely 3:52 11. Hibbing 6:01 10. Gilbert 8:17 9. Virginia 10:18 8. Nashwauk 12:25 7. Biwabik 14:58 6. Chisholm 17:13 5. Babbitt 19:26 4. Eveleth 21:29 3. Aurora 23:43 2. Hoyt Lakes 25:56 1. Keewatin 28:40 Who chooses the Range Which Iron Range town would you pick, and what single issue would make you move or stop you? Next week, we follow the records into another overlooked rural region. This video is for information only and is not real estate, legal or financial advice. Verify water rights, zoning and permits with the county before you buy. SOURCES Census Reporter, Keewatin, Minnesota profile, ACS 2020–2024 Census Reporter, Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota profile, ACS 2020–2024 Census Reporter, Hibbing, Minnesota profile, ACS 2020–2024 Census Reporter, Ely, Minnesota profile, ACS 2020–2024 USDA NASS, Minnesota Table Eight: Farms, Land and Buildings, 2022 Minnesota Department of Health, Constructing a New Water-Supply Well Minnesota Department of Health, Well and Boring Laws and Rules Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, SSTS Design Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Groundwater Provinces, 2021 NOAA NCEI, United States Climate Normals, 1991–2020 FCC Broadband Data Collection Help Center, Using the National Broadband Map, 2025 Essentia Health, Essentia Health-Virginia hospital profile Fairview, About Fairview Range Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, About Us Minnesota DNR, St. James Legacy Mine Pit City of Hibbing, Facts and History PHOTO CREDITS (Wikimedia Commons) ""Thank You Fire Fighters" signs in the window of Steger Mukluk Co. in Ely, Minnesota on July 23, 2026" by Lorie Shaull, CC BY 4.0 "Nearby smoke from BWCA fires creates haze on Ed Shave Lake, July 14, 2026 along Echo Trail in Ely, Minnesota" by Lorie Shaull, CC BY 4.0 "Shagawa Lake - Frozen in Winter - Ely, Minnesota (44605661414)" by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 "Bob Dylan Drive street sign in Hibbing, Minnesota" by Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0 "Hibbing City Hall" by McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 "Hibbing High School" by m_e_mccarron, CC BY-SA 2.0 "Commercial business district, S. Broadway, Gilbert, Minnesota 01" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Commercial business district, S. Broadway, Gilbert, Minnesota 02" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Fall Colors - George Washington State Forest, Nashwauk, Minnesota (25069404198)" by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 "A goat at the Itasca County Fair" by Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0 "Biwabik, Minnesota 02" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Biwabik, Minnesota 03" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Biwabik, Minnesota 04" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Babbitt, Minnesota - Commerce Road (26920217388)" by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 "Babbitt History Center sign, Babbitt, Minnesota" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Babbitt Municipal Center, Babbitt, Minnesota" by Lorie Shaull, CC BY 4.0 "725 Jackson Street, Eveleth, Minnesota" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Building converted into apartments, Eveleth, Minnesota-01" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "American Legion Post 241, Aurora, Minnesota" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Aurora City Hall, Aurora, Minnesota-01" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Aurora City Hall, Aurora, Minnesota-02" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 "Aurora City Hall, Aurora, Minnesota-04" by Myotus, CC BY 4.0 Some illustrative scenes are AI-generated. Stock footage: Pixabay. #Minnesota #OffGrid #CheapLand #CheapHomes #SmallTowns #Homesteading