HAM LAKE, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE

LIVING IN HAM LAKE

Ham Lake’s first settlers arrived around 1855, and the area was organized as Ham Lake Township in 1871, named for the lake that had come to be called that because of its shape. Scandinavian families became the dominant settlers, and potato farming was big here in the early 1900s. In the 1920s and ’30s the Soderquist brothers built a cluster of businesses near Central Avenue and County Road 18 that became known as Soderville, and the paving of Highway 65 in 1940 helped the area grow. Ham Lake incorporated as a city on January 8, 1974.

The city’s motto is “Convenient Country Living,” and it shows in how Ham Lake is built. Homes sit on one-acre minimum lots with their own wells and septic systems — there’s no municipal sewer — which keeps the community spread out and green. The city maintains 25 parks with more than 268 acres of parkland and trails, including Ham Lake Park on the lake, with an indoor pavilion and skating rinks, and Lions Park next to City Hall. Ham Lake has been a Tree City USA every year since 1993.

Outdoors, the lake itself has a public boat launch and fishing pier at Ham Lake Park off 153rd Avenue, Coon Lake reaches into the north end of the city, and the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area is close by. Highway 65 is the main route through town and the quickest way south to Blaine and Minneapolis, which is roughly 30 minutes away in normal traffic.

If you want space, trees and a bit of distance from your neighbors without giving up a reasonable commute, Ham Lake is worth a close look. Just keep in mind that wells, septic systems and lot lines are part of every purchase here, and they deserve the same attention as the house itself.

HAM LAKE AT A GLANCE

Population: 16,464
Size: 35.9 sq mi
Incorporated: 1974
Schools: Anoka-Hennepin & ISD 831
Lakes: Ham Lake · Coon Lake
Commute: Hwy 65
County: Anoka
Known for: Country living, 25 parks
Drive to MSP Airport: about 50 minutes (35 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 35 minutes (23 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 35 minutes (27 miles), off-peak

HAM LAKE SCHOOLS

Ham Lake is split between two public school districts. Most of the city is served by Anoka-Hennepin Schools (ISD 11), Minnesota’s largest district, and part of the city is served by the Forest Lake Area School System (ISD 831), whose students attend Forest Lake Area High School.

Because district lines run through Ham Lake, the school assignment can change from one road to the next. I confirm the district and assigned schools for every address before you make an offer.

What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Ham Lake’s children of that school’s age who live in its attendance area — ages 5–10 for elementary, 11–13 for middle and 14–17 for high school (about 1,311, 766 and 1,011 children in the 2020 Census). District percentages use all children ages 5–17. It shows where the city’s kids are assigned; it is not a test score or a rating. Students per grade is each school’s 2025–26 enrollment divided by the number of grades it serves.

School districts serving Ham Lake: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 94% of the city’s school-age children; Forest Lake (ISD 831) — about 6% of the city’s school-age children.

HOW HAM LAKE’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE

Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11): reading 51% and math 51% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #98 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 89% (class of 2025), #215 of 317
Forest Lake (ISD 831): reading 50% and math 50% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #115 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 85% (class of 2025), #255 of 317

Proficient = share of tested students who met or exceeded Minnesota’s grade-level standards (MCA, MTAS and Alternate MCA, all tested grades). Test-score rank = position among Minnesota school districts (charter schools not included) by the average of reading and math proficiency; school ranks compare each school with all Minnesota public schools at the same level. Ranks are calculated by Minnesota Chuck from Minnesota Department of Education data and are not an official state rating.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SERVING HAM LAKE

McKinley Elementary: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 65% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades K–5, about 106 students per grade; reading 64%, math 78% proficient (2025–26), #73 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Johnsville Elementary: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 15% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades K–5, about 107 students per grade; reading 51%, math 63% proficient (2025–26), #290 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Rum River Elementary: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 13% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades K–5, about 136 students per grade; reading 61%, math 74% proficient (2025–26), #111 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
Lino Lakes Elementary: Forest Lake (ISD 831) — about 8% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades K–5, about 62 students per grade; reading 54%, math 47% proficient (2025–26), #401 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools

MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING HAM LAKE

Roosevelt Middle School: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 86% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 366 students per grade; reading 52%, math 46% proficient (2025–26), #95 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Oak View Middle School: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 10% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 439 students per grade; reading 64%, math 64% proficient (2025–26), #23 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
Forest Lake Middle School: Forest Lake (ISD 831) — about 4% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 438 students per grade; reading 52%, math 50% proficient (2025–26), #80 of 264 Minnesota middle schools

HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING HAM LAKE

Blaine High School: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 86% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 796 students per grade; reading 48%, math 51% proficient (2025–26), #70 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 95%
Andover High School: Anoka-Hennepin (ISD 11) — about 8% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 446 students per grade; reading 51%, math 40% proficient (2025–26), #106 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 95%
Forest Lake High School: Forest Lake (ISD 831) — about 6% of Ham Lake’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 460 students per grade; reading 42%, math 41% proficient (2025–26), #153 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 89%

Sources: Minnesota Department of Education, School Attendance Areas, SY2025-26; Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 assessment results and graduation rates (Minnesota Report Card); U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (children by age, by census block); Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 enrollment. Boundaries can change, so confirm the assigned school with the district for a specific address.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What school district is Ham Lake, MN in?

Ham Lake is split between Anoka-Hennepin Schools (ISD 11) and the Forest Lake Area School System (ISD 831). Most of the city is in Anoka-Hennepin, while part of it is in Forest Lake’s district, so it’s important to confirm the district for any specific address.

What county is Ham Lake in?

Ham Lake is in Anoka County. It borders Blaine, Andover, Coon Rapids, Lino Lakes, Columbus, East Bethel, Oak Grove and Bethel, and Highway 65 runs north–south through the city. The community of Soderville is in the northern part of Ham Lake.

How far is Ham Lake from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?

Driving from the center of Ham Lake at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 23 miles (roughly 35 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 27 miles (roughly 35 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 35 miles (roughly 50 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Ham Lake you start from.

What is there to do in Ham Lake?

Ham Lake has 25 city parks, including Ham Lake Park with a boat launch, fishing pier, indoor pavilion and skating rinks, and Lions Park by City Hall. Coon Lake and the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area are nearby, and the city has golf, bowling and a winery.

Is Ham Lake a good place to buy a home?

Ham Lake offers one-acre minimum lots, a rural feel and Highway 65 access, which appeals to buyers who want space close to the metro. Homes have private wells and septic systems, so inspections matter. I can help you through those details and price a home with confidence.

NEARBY CITIES I SERVE

Blaine · Andover · Lino Lakes · Columbus · East Bethel · Oak Grove · Bethel · Circle Pines · Lexington · Centerville

Thinking about buying or selling in Ham Lake? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results