City · Minnesota
Shafer, Minnesota
Shafer, city, in Chisago County, Minnesota. Shafer had 1,212 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,142 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,186 (±185). GEOID 2759314.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,212
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,142 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,186 ±185
Median household income
$99,489
±$13,700 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$242,800
±$23,404 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$966
±$28 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Shafer and what county is it in?
Shafer is a city in Chisago County, Minnesota. It covers 1.3 square miles of land, 899 residents per square mile in 2020.
Shafer is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Shafer, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,212 people lived in Shafer on July 1, 2025, up 5.0% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 1,142 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,186 (±185).
| Measure | Shafer | Chisago County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,186 ±185 | 57,991 | no clear change |
| Households | 431 ±71 | 21,364 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.75 ±0.33 | 2.63 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 448 ±71 | 22,998 | no clear change |
Shafer's population since 2000
From 343 in 2000 to 1,212 in 2025: up 253.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Shafer as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Shafer?
The median resident of Shafer is 34.0 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 9.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.8%.
| Measure | Shafer | Chisago County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 ±3.0 | 40.8 | +4.9 |
| Under 18 years | 26.3% ±4.6 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.1% ±3.5 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Male | 52.4% ±5.3 pts | 51.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.8% ±4.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.8% ±7.3 pts | 89.8% | −11.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 2.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.5% ±4.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.1% ±2.9 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.2% ±4.2 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.1% ±2.1 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 11.0% ±4.2 pts | 11.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±4.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.1% ±3.5 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.6% ±6.1 pts | 24.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9% ±3.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 96.9% ±2.4 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Shafer earn?
Half of Shafer's 431 households earn less than $99,489 a year (±$13,700), against $99,400 in Chisago County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $91,379 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shafer | Chisago County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $99,489 ±$13,700 | $99,400 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $105,878 ±$14,877 | $116,368 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,976 ±$4,992 | $44,346 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.5% ±4.1 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.2% ±5.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.1% ±5.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.7% ±4.7 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.5% ±6.2 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Shafer?
Owners occupy 84.5% of Shafer's occupied homes and renters 15.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $242,800 by its owner (±$23,404). The median renter pays $966 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Shafer | Chisago County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $242,800 ±$23,404 | $351,900 | +$38,628 |
| Median gross rent | $966 ±$28 | $1,186 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 13.7% ±14.7 pts | 42.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,742 ±$93 | $1,992 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 84.5% ±7.2 pts | 85.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 15.5% ±7.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Housing units | 448 ±71 | 22,998 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.5% ±4.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±27.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.2% ±9.0 pts | 81.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 27.0% ±9.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.2% ±3.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.8% ±7.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.2% ±6.9 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.6% ±1.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Shafer building?
Shafer last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2023.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Shafer work and get to work?
80.7% of Shafer's workers drive alone and 8.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 39.5 minutes.
| Measure | Shafer | Chisago County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 79.8% ±5.8 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% ±1.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.7% ±6.7 pts | 75.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2% ±4.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.8% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.5% ±3.6 pts | 14.2% | +5.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 39.5 min ±5.7 | 31.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Shafer?
No census tract lies mostly in Shafer; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1107Chisago County | 4,379 | $101,958 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Shafer) · Census block assignment files
How does Shafer compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Shafer is the 9,556th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 331st-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Shafer ranks 211th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 331st | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 96th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 239th | 562 |
| Median household income | 211th | 558 |
| Per capita income | 359th | 562 |
| Median home value | 387th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 281st | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 236th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 445th | 559 |
| Median age | 507th | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 281st | 561 |
| Work from home | 403rd | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 4th | 562 |
Shafer's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Shafer with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Shafer?
20 of the 57 figures for Shafer on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Shafer are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Shafer.