1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Carlton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $80,573. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Carlton County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Population and place: Carlton County
- Earnings across Carlton County households
- Jobs and commutes in Carlton County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Carlton County
- Carlton County towns compared
- Carlton County, Pine County and other neighbors
- What a median Carlton County budget can carry
- Reading the Carlton County data as a borrower
- More Carlton County figures
- Steps before you apply in Carlton County
- Licensing and complaints for Carlton County
- More guides for Carlton County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Carlton County
Roughly 36,518 residents live in Carlton County, Minnesota, 30th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. It covers 861 square miles of land, or about 42 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Largest place: Cloquet, about 12,537 residents (34% of Carlton County); 12 Census places in all.
Earnings across Carlton County households
$80,573 is the median household income for Carlton County, set against $89,062 for Minnesota. Only 19 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Carlton County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.0% | +0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.7% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -6.5 pts |
On the low end, 18% of Carlton County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 11.9%, 3 points higher than the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.420 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carlton County median.
Jobs and commutes in Carlton County
Top Carlton County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 30%; second, retail trade, 12%. Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 26% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 8%; under 15 minutes: 37%. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Carlton County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Carlton County
Carlton County rent at the median: $1,009 a month, utilities in ($1,280 in Minnesota). 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $245,100, a typical Carlton County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. In Carlton County, 80% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Nationally, Carlton County's $1,009 rent is 15% above the middle county.
| Housing | Carlton County | Minnesota statewide | Carlton County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 80% | 72% | +7.8 pts |
| Median home value | $245,100 | $329,300 | 26% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,009/mo | $1,280/mo | 21% lower |
| Vacant units | 11% | 9% | +2.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | -1.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | -0.8 pts |
At a $245,100 median value, many Carlton County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Carlton County towns compared
12 Census places fall mainly inside Carlton County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 21,606 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Esko ($109,063) and Barnum ($43,438) mark the top and bottom of Carlton County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $885 in Barnum to $1,435 in Scanlon. This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloquet | city | 12,537 | $61,367 | $1,024 | 12 mi |
| Moose Lake | city | 2,863 | $64,286 | $907 | 11 mi |
| Esko | CDP | 1,813 | $109,063 | $1,215 | 16 mi |
| Scanlon | city | 1,146 | $68,750 | $1,435 | 13 mi |
| Carlton | city | 875 | $63,375 | $970 | 12 mi |
| Barnum | city | 503 | $43,438 | $885 | 7 mi |
| Mahtowa | CDP | 428 | $78,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Cromwell | city | 423 | $58,750 | $463 | 11 mi |
| Wrenshall | city | 404 | $98,750 | $1,292 | 14 mi |
| Big Lake | CDP | 378 | $92,500 | $99 | 7 mi |
| Kettle River | city | 140 | $65,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Wright | city | 96 | $59,375 | $667 | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Carlton County, Pine County and other neighbors
Pine County is closest, 35 miles from center to center; the sixth, Washburn County, is 65 miles off. Douglas County leads the group on income ($75,099), Aitkin County trails ($60,833), and Carlton County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Carlton County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton County | - | $80,573 | $1,009/mo | 80% |
| Pine County, MN | 35 mi | $71,146 | $877/mo | 82% |
| Aitkin County, MN | 36 mi | $60,833 | $869/mo | 85% |
| Douglas County, WI | 38 mi | $75,099 | $909/mo | 72% |
| Burnett County, WI | 53 mi | $62,819 | $771/mo | 86% |
| Kanabec County, MN | 54 mi | $71,460 | $962/mo | 85% |
| Washburn County, WI | 65 mi | $63,441 | $795/mo | 82% |
What a median Carlton County budget can carry
How much room does a median Carlton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Carlton County: $6,714
- Less median rent of $1,009, which is 15% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,878 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Carlton County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Reading the Carlton County data as a borrower
What the Carlton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
More Carlton County figures
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Residents | Carlton County | Difference from Minnesota | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | +2.6 yrs | -0.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | -12.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | +0.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | -0.2 pts | -3.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | -1.0 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Work from home | 9.5% | -8.2 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | +2.6 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | +0.7 pts | +0.4 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Carlton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Steps before you apply in Carlton County
A short checklist for Carlton County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Minnesota borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Carlton County
Carlton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. If a Carlton County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
More guides for Carlton County
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Carlton County rank on income in Minnesota?
20th of 87, with a median of $80,573. The state median is $89,062.
Is Carlton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,009 against $1,280 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Can Carlton County owners borrow against a $245,100 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Cloquet. Which guide is mine?
This one. Cloquet and the rest of Carlton County have no separate city guide.
Can Carlton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.