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Shafer, MN
City in Chisago County, Minnesota.
Population
1,186
Land area
1.3sq mi
People per sq mi
934
ZIP codes
0
Shafer and its ZIP codes
Shafer at a glance
- Shafer is about 13 times as dense as Minnesota as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $99,489 a year, 12% more than the Minnesota figure of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $242,800 (26% below Minnesota) and median rent is $966 a month.
Local data for Shafer, MN
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Shafer, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$99,489
Poverty rate
7.5%
Median home value
$242,800
Median rent
$966/mo
Homeownership
84.5%
Bachelor's or higher
20.6%
Median age
34.0
Average commute
39.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (394), Norwegian Americans (194), Irish Americans (181).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Chisago County. PPP loans are for Shafer.
Unemployment rate
4.9%
Aug 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$59,776
16,270 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,153
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$398M
FY 2026, $7,023 per person
How people get to work
Shafer, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.7%
- Carpooled7.2%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.8%
- Worked from home8.5%
Average one-way commute: 39.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Shafer, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
327
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
37
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 3°F
30.5 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Shafer, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.6%
U.S. 33.3% +3.3 pts
Diabetes
7.6%
U.S. 12.1% -4.5 pts
Smoking
15.3%
U.S. 12.8% +2.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.2%
U.S. 11.1% -3.9 pts
Cities near Shafer
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Center CityCity | 2.5 mi | 0.6 |
| Taylors FallsCity | 4.6 mi | 4 |
| LindstromCity | 4.6 mi | 3.8 |
| Osceola, WIVillage | 5.5 mi | 4.1 |
| St. Croix Falls, WICity | 5.8 mi | 5 |
| Dresser, WIVillage | 6 mi | 1.9 |
| Chisago CityCity | 8.4 mi | 17.8 |
| Centuria, WIVillage | 10 mi | 1.7 |
| ScandiaCity | 10 mi | 34.9 |
| StacyCity | 11 mi | 28.5 |
| WyomingCity | 12 mi | 20.7 |
| North BranchCity | 13 mi | 37.3 |
| Marine on St. CroixCity | 13 mi | 3.9 |
| Forest LakeCity | 14 mi | 30.5 |
| Milltown, WIVillage | 15 mi | 1.8 |
| Balsam Lake, WIVillage | 15 mi | 2.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Shafer, MN in?
- Shafer is in Chisago County, Minnesota.
- What is the population of Shafer, MN?
- About 1,186 people live in Shafer, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Shafer?
- Nearby places include Center City (2.5 mi), Taylors Falls (4.6 mi), Lindstrom (4.6 mi), Osceola, WI (5.5 mi), St. Croix Falls, WI (5.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023