Ross Lake is a township in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, home to about 274 people across 33 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56431 and 56447.
Homes sold for a median of $250 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and all of them were seller’s markets.
Population2748 per sq mi
Median home value$364,200Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$250Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Ross Lake. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Ross Lake guide is on the way
We’re writing up Ross Lake’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
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Around Ross Lake
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)118 miles away
Closer regional airport
Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)22 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN112 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL442 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Ross Lake; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents Ross Lake
U.S. Representative · Minnesota’s 8th DistrictPete Stauber (R)
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Ross Lake had 163 residents in the 2020 census, up 22% since 2000.
It’s the 1547th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Crow Wing County grew from 14,250 residents in 1900 to 66,123 in 2020.
Crow Wing County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average 0°F. About 31.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Aitkin 2e, MN weather station (3 miles away).
Jobs in Crow Wing County
28,209 jobs at 2,283 businesses in Crow Wing County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
86 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Ross Lake’s ZIP codes.
Cuyuna Regional Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Crosby11.5 miles
Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Brainerd26.3 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
18
Specialist doctors
3
Dentists
5
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
27
Mental health providers
17
Physical and occupational therapists
11
Optometrists
3
Chiropractors
2
Pharmacies
7
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Places in and around Ross Lake
Parks (3 nearby)
Aitkin County Fairgrounds · 24 acres1.2 mi
Aitkin City Park · 18 acres1.5 mi
Aitkin County Parks · 4 acres0.8 mi
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Paulbeck's County Market2.5 mi
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
CVS Pharmacy1.5 mi
Libraries (1 nearby)
Aitkin Public Library1.5 mi
Museums (1 nearby)
Northern Pacific Depot1.5 mi
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
The Terrace1.3 mi
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by Aitkin Public School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(3)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Rippleside ElementaryAitkin
Pre-K–6
476
Public
1.6 mi
Aitkin Secondary SchoolAitkin
7–12
509
Public
1.2 mi
Aitkin Alternative Learning ProgramAitkin
8–12
4
Alternative Education
1.3 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Aitkin City, Nordland, Farm Island, Aitkin Township, Hazelton Township (Aitkin County), Emily, Spencer, Glen, Rabbit Lake, Malmo, Deerwood Township (Crow Wing County), Wealthwood, Fleming Township (Aitkin County), Kimberly, Morrison, Fairfield Township (Crow Wing County), Little Pine, Second Assessment UT, Davidson UT and Lee Township (Aitkin County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.