Live & Work

Heartland Lakes is a welcoming, collaborative place to live, work, and grow. Nestled in Hubbard County, the Heartland Lakes communities—Park Rapids, Nevis, Akeley, Dorset, Lake George, and surrounding areas—offer a robust mix of advanced manufacturing, food processing, trade and retail, and a thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy. The region features a strong employment base in precision machining, wood products, potato processing, and logistics, anchored by a lifestyle that lets you “live where you vacation.” Residents enjoy a practical, supportive business climate, a high-value quality of place, and a culture of collaboration that brings together employers, local government, and community organizations to fund, grow, and sustain local opportunity. Cost considerations remain favorable relative to many metro areas, with housing costs that remain accessible for households at a range of income levels. 

Key advantages for relocating to the Heartland Lakes region

• Cost of living and housing: The Park Rapids area and surrounding Heartland Lakes communities offer a cost profile that is notably below many metropolitan areas, with housing costs commonly well below national averages and a cost-of-living index that reflects affordability for households pursuing a balanced, work-and-life lifestyle. Park Rapids, for example, shows a cost-of-living score of 84.4 on BestPlaces, with housing costs substantially below national levels. This translates into greater purchasing power for families and/ or for entrepreneurs building a business in a smaller, yet dynamic, market. 
• Housing market momentum and value: Hubbard County customarily demonstrates strong price growth and attractive value in several communities, with recent data showing healthy appreciation and solid demand in towns like Park Rapids, Nevis, and Park Rapids-area markets. This supports both home purchase opportunities for new residents and value stability for investors and employers seeking housing for talent.
• Regional amenities that support a high quality of life: Outdoor recreation, accessibility to Itasca State Park and the Mississippi Headwaters, a growing network of local trails and parks, and a Gallant mix of small-businessess, breweries, eateries, and cultural offerings underpin a lifestyle that’s both active and relaxing. The area’s amenities support the “live where you vacation” narrative—an important draw for families, retirees, and remote workers seeking work-life balance with a reasonable commute to regional employers. 
• The Hangar and connected ecosystem for entrepreneurs and remote workers: HLDC’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, business training, and coworking infrastructure (including The Hangar) provides a practical pathway for remote workers, start-ups, and established businesses to grow with support from a coordinated local ecosystem. This is a core element of HLDC’s strategy to diversify revenue, expand BRE/RECRUIT, and strengthen the county’s tax base.
• Regional workforce and industry strength: The Heartland Lakes region benefits from a diversified mix of industries—advanced manufacturing and precision machining, food processing and agribusiness, and trade/transport/retail—along with a growing tourism and outdoor recreation economy. These sectors align with the HLDC’s mission to inspire and retain economic growth and to expand capacity for programmatic funding and targeted investment throughout Hubbard County. 

Park Rapids and the broader Heartland Lakes region offer a practical, data-backed opportunity for individuals and families seeking a balanced, high-quality lifestyle with accessible housing, a thriving local economy, and a supportive, collaborative business community. The region’s mix of manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, and tourism—combined with HLDC’s programming around The Hangar coworking, small-business training, and targeted incentives—provides a clear pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term community investment. If you’re exploring relocation, start with the subpages below to learn more about living in the Heartland Lakes area, as well as the working environment and business resources available to innovators and employers.