1st Advantage MortgageThe median Chippewa County household earns $71,458, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Minnesota license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Chippewa County
- Household income in Chippewa County
- What it costs to live in Chippewa County
- How Chippewa County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Chippewa County
- Chippewa County and the counties next door
- Chippewa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Chippewa County
- Budget math at the Chippewa County median
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Chippewa County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Chippewa County
Roughly 12,377 residents live in Chippewa County, Minnesota, 61st by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 581 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 21 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Chippewa County, Montevideo leads by population with about 5,315; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Household income in Chippewa County
At $71,458, the typical Chippewa County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 58 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Chippewa County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -8.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Chippewa County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.5%, 5 points higher than the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.433 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $71,458 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Chippewa County
Renters in Chippewa County pay a median of $869 a month, 32% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $156,100, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Median construction year: 1957.
| Chippewa County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $869/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,100 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Chippewa County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Chippewa County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Chippewa County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +6.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.7% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Chippewa County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Chippewa County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 10,464 residents, leaving about 15% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Montevideo has the highest median household income on the list ($68,596) and Milan the lowest ($53,594), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Montevideo ($851) and steepest in Milan ($1,096). This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo | city | 5,315 | $68,596 | $851 | 9 mi |
| Granite Falls | city | 2,685 | $59,375 | $920 | 15 mi |
| Clara City | city | 1,466 | $63,636 | $1,068 | 11 mi |
| Milan | city | 564 | $53,594 | $1,096 | 18 mi |
| Maynard | city | 234 | $41,563 | $1,420 | 10 mi |
| Watson | city | 200 | $34,722 | $741 | 12 mi |
Chippewa County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Swift County at 18 miles out to Pope County at 39. Kandiyohi County leads the group on income ($76,592), Swift County trails ($60,412), and Chippewa County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa County | - | $71,458 | $869/mo | 72% |
| Swift County, MN | 18 mi | $60,412 | $920/mo | 72% |
| Yellow Medicine County, MN | 26 mi | $74,000 | $678/mo | 84% |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 29 mi | $76,592 | $909/mo | 73% |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 30 mi | $74,432 | $728/mo | 83% |
| Renville County, MN | 36 mi | $70,625 | $790/mo | 80% |
| Pope County, MN | 39 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
Chippewa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Chippewa County | Minnesota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Chippewa County
A few patterns in the Chippewa County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Chippewa County borrower sees (free reports).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Budget math at the Chippewa County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Chippewa County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,955 gross per month ($71,458 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $869 uses 15%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,275 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,561 total minus rent leaves $1,692
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Chippewa County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Chippewa County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Chippewa County resident can confirm its license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chippewa County?
$71,458 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 59th of 87 in the state.
How does Chippewa County rent compare with Minnesota?
$869 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 32% below.
I own my home in Chippewa County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Chippewa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Montevideo, Granite Falls, Clara City, Milan, Maynard.
Can Chippewa 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.