1st Advantage MortgageAbout 86% of Cass County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,874. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Cass County
- What it costs to live in Cass County
- Household income in Cass County
- Work, industries and travel time in Cass County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cass County
- The counties around Cass County
- Debt-to-income at Cass County's medians
- Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
- Reading the Cass County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Cass County residents
- Steps before you apply in Cass County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cass County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cass County's population at 30,992; only 33 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 2,021 square miles, that works out to roughly 15.3 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cass County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 15 Census places inside Cass County, East Gull Lake leads by population with about 1,076; 14 of the 15 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Cass County
A typical Cass County rental runs $863 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. Home values center on $288,300, or 4.2 years of median income. 86% of Cass County households own their home and 14% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Cass County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $863/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $288,300 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.3% | 2.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cass County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Cass County
At $68,874, the typical Cass County household income is 5% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 73 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Cass County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.8% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -6.6 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 12.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Cass County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Cass County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 11% locally and 6% for Minnesota. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.6% in Cass County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Where residents work | Cass County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.1% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -3.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cass County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cass County
The table lists the 14 largest of 15 Census places in Cass County, by population. Together all 15 hold about 6,684 people, so roughly 78% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $123,333 at the median in East Gull Lake, $34,375 in Walker. Median rent ranges from $545 in Walker to $1,438 in East Gull Lake. No Cass County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 15.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Gull Lake | city | 1,076 | $123,333 | $1,438 | 38 mi |
| Lake Shore | city | 1,073 | $96,563 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Pine River | city | 906 | $43,080 | $700 | 16 mi |
| Walker | city | 848 | $34,375 | $545 | 15 mi |
| Cass Lake | city | 635 | $48,250 | $763 | 32 mi |
| Pillager | city | 547 | $67,679 | $1,063 | 43 mi |
| Remer | city | 371 | $49,500 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Backus | city | 291 | $56,250 | $720 | 12 mi |
| Chickamaw Beach | city | 248 | $110,000 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Hackensack | city | 248 | $41,250 | $620 | 9 mi |
| Federal Dam | city | 142 | $38,393 | $992 | 21 mi |
| Longville | city | 138 | $32,917 | $525 | 6 mi |
| Bena | city | 79 | $49,167 | $1,200 | 28 mi |
| Whipholt | CDP | 76 | $72,500 | n/a | 7 mi |
The counties around Cass County
Hubbard County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Morrison County, is 64 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Cass County; Crow Wing County is highest at $72,589 and Aitkin County lowest at $60,833.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | - | $68,874 | $863/mo | 86% |
| Hubbard County, MN | 29 mi | $71,995 | $905/mo | 83% |
| Crow Wing County, MN | 34 mi | $72,589 | $971/mo | 77% |
| Wadena County, MN | 40 mi | $61,467 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Aitkin County, MN | 50 mi | $60,833 | $869/mo | 85% |
| Itasca County, MN | 50 mi | $68,603 | $988/mo | 83% |
| Morrison County, MN | 64 mi | $69,446 | $788/mo | 81% |
Debt-to-income at Cass County's medians
Cass County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,740 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($863)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,203 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.9%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Indicator | Cass County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.7% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Cass County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Reading the Cass County data as a borrower
Based on the Cass County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fixed incomes. Cass County's median age is 49.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Consolidating cards in Cass County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Cass County borrower sees (free reports).
Who licenses lenders for Cass County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cass County, check the Minnesota Department of Commerce. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Cass County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cass County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cass County household make?
About $68,874 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Minnesota median.
Is Cass County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $863 against $1,280 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Cass County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Pine River, Walker, Cass Lake.
Is the fit check different in Cass County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Cass County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.