At a Glance
Median Income
$58,750
$29,160 per capita
Home Value
$104,700
Zillow: $290,578
Median Rent
$490/mo
21.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
8.5%
95.3% high school+
Unemployment
1.6%
7.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.6%
19.3% smoking rate
How Backus Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Backus's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Backus a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Backus residents earn a median household income of $58,750 , which is 22% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,160. The unemployment rate stands at 1.6% (56% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 965 business establishments, including 135 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Backus is $104,700 , 63% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $290,578. Median rent is $490/month, with 21.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.
Education
8.5% of adults in Backus hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(75% below the national average).
95.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Backus has an average annual temperature of 42°F (5°C).
Winters average 10°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 28.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 27.
Data Overview
People
Population287
Median Age47.9 yrs
Density463/mi²
Male / Female55% / 45%
Foreign Born6.6%
Veterans15.2%
Economy
A
Median Income$58,750
Per Capita$29,160
Unemployment1.6%
Poverty7.0%
County GDP$1,363M
Avg Weekly Wage$844
Housing
A+
Home Value$104,700
Rent$490
Ownership76.1%
Zillow$290,578
Housing Units173
Rent Burden21.0%
Health
Obesity37.6%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking19.3%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death12,951/100K
Climate
Avg Temp42°F
Rain28.0 in/yr
AQI27 (Good)
Elevation1,342 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+8.5%
High School+95.3%
Graduate+3.4%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 33%
Commute19 min
Broadband85.3%
Internet Speed101 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries5
Did You Know?
The median home in Backus was built in 1970.
The nearest airport is Brainerd Lakes Regional (34 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.433 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.1% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 101 Mbps.
There are 135 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.