Commercial Real Estate Market in Backus, MN
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
20 active listings and 79 off-market properties in Backus, MN.
Market Trends
Backus, MN spans 158.3 square miles in Cass County, Minnesota. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Backus, MN runs 21.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 13.7% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Backus, MN runs 6.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, down from 8% in 2020.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Backus, MN runs 4.9% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2019. Nearly 1.6x the 2022 low of 3.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Backus, MN runs 8% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 6.5% in 2022.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 64.5%
- Open space 22%
- Commercial 8.5%
- Industrial 5%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Residential Shore Land
Public District
Rural Residential
Residential Urban District
Commercial District
Backus, MN zones 395 acres across 7 districts. Commercial zoning covers 8.5% of zoned land, residential 64.5%, open space 22% and industrial 5%. The largest single district is Residential Shore Land at 25.4%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 13.5% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Residential Shore Land (R-1)
The purpose of this district is to preserve and enhance the quality of surface waters, conserve the economic and natural environmental values of shorelands, protect drinking water sources, and provide for the wise use of water and related land resources in the shoreland area
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Backus, MN has 2,595 residents in 2,236 households. Density runs 16 people per square mile. Median household income here is $63,542 and median gross rent $944 a month.
2,595
Population
2,236
Households
1.2
Avg Household Size
53
Median Age
16%
College-Educated
94%
High-School Grad
158.3 sq mi
ZIP Area
16
Density / Sq Mi
$63,542
Median Household Income
$36,875
Median Earnings
$944
Median Rent
$230,100
Median Home Value
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Hackensack | — | — |
| Chickamaw Beach | — | — |
| Jenkins | — | — |
| Akeley | — | — |
Commercial property in Backus, MN asks $664/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Backus?
Commercial property in Backus, MN asks an average of $664 per square foot.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Backus?
Backus, MN zones 395 acres across 7 districts, of which 8.5% is commercial and 5% industrial. The largest single district is Residential Shore Land at 25.4% of zoned land. The purpose of this district is to preserve and enhance the quality of surface waters, conserve the economic and natural environmental values of shorelands, protect drinking water sources, and provide for the wise use of water and related land resources in the shoreland area Residential zoning covers 64.5% and open space 22%.
Where does Realmo's Backus market data come from?
Realmo compiles Backus, MN figures from 3 recent recorded sales, 20 active sale listings, 79 tracked off-market properties, the current Backus zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 20 active for-sale and 0 active for-lease listings in Backus, MN. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 395 zoned acres across 7 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Midwest region level, retail vacancy is reported at Midwest region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Midwest region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
