1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Clearwater County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,475. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Clearwater County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Clearwater County
- Paychecks and income spread in Clearwater County
- Work, industries and travel time in Clearwater County
- Places inside Clearwater County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Clearwater County budget can carry
- Clearwater County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Clearwater County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Steps before you apply in Clearwater County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Clearwater County
Clearwater County is home to about 8,616 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 74th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Land area is 999 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clearwater County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Clearwater County, Bagley leads by population with about 1,248; 5 of the 8 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Clearwater County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Rent, home values and ownership in Clearwater County
Renters in Clearwater County pay a median of $742 a month, 42% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. By the Census definition, 37% of Clearwater County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,100, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Housing | Clearwater County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $742/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,100 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Clearwater 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Clearwater County
The median household income in Clearwater County is $64,475; statewide it is $89,062, so Clearwater County runs 28% below Minnesota as a whole. Only 80 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Band | Clearwater County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -8.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Clearwater County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (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 Clearwater County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Clearwater County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 6% for Minnesota. The survey's unemployment rate for Clearwater County averages 7.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 9.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Clearwater County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 13.2% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | +1.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Clearwater County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 30% of Clearwater County residents live in one of the 8. No Clearwater County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagley | city | 1,248 | $44,896 | $750 | 4 mi |
| Clearbrook | city | 584 | $48,750 | $683 | 9 mi |
| Rice Lake | CDP | 244 | $41,136 | $500 | 15 mi |
| Gonvick | city | 221 | $33,750 | $475 | 13 mi |
| Shevlin | city | 148 | $62,361 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Ebro | CDP | 75 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| South End | CDP | 38 | $31,875 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Leonard | city | 12 | $53,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Clearwater County's, from 27 to 47 miles away. Income ranges from $59,441 in Mahnomen County to $77,325 in Pennington County; 5 of these neighbors top Clearwater County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater County | - | $64,475 | $742/mo | 80% |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 27 mi | $59,441 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Beltrami County, MN | 27 mi | $68,975 | $1,053/mo | 70% |
| Red Lake County, MN | 39 mi | $77,188 | $583/mo | 83% |
| Hubbard County, MN | 40 mi | $71,995 | $905/mo | 83% |
| Pennington County, MN | 46 mi | $77,325 | $862/mo | 72% |
| Becker County, MN | 47 mi | $71,388 | $920/mo | 77% |
What a median Clearwater County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clearwater County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Clearwater County: $5,373
- Housing at the median rent of $742 uses 14%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,192 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Clearwater County's.
Clearwater County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Clearwater County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.4% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Clearwater County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Reading the Clearwater County data as a borrower
Based on the Clearwater County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 12% of Clearwater County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Clearwater County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Consumer lenders serving Clearwater County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Clearwater County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clearwater County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clearwater County-area credit union.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Clearwater County?
$64,475 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 81st of 87 in the state.
Is Clearwater County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $742 against $1,280 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Clearwater County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bagley, Clearbrook, Rice Lake, Gonvick, Shevlin and 3 more.
Will a Clearwater County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Clearwater County residents?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce licenses consumer lenders in Minnesota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.