1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Cook County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $72,638. 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
- Who lives in Cook County
- Household income in Cook County
- Labor force snapshot: Cook County
- Cook County's most unusual numbers
- Cook County housing compared with Minnesota
- Counties near Cook County
- Towns and communities in Cook County
- What the numbers mean for Cook County borrowers
- Age, degrees and coverage in Cook County
- A Cook County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Cook County
- Four steps for Cook County borrowers
- More guides for Cook County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cook County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cook County's population at 5,635; only 79 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 3.9 residents per square mile across 1,453 square miles of land. Cook County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Grand Marais, about 1,796 residents (32% of Cook County); 2 Census places in all. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Cook County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Cook County
Half of Cook County households take in less than $72,638 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
| Band | Cook County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.9% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 53.3% | +15.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -5.7 pts |
15% under $35,000 and 32% at $100,000 or more: that is the Cook County income split. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 1 point higher than the state's 9.3%. For a borrower in Cook County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Labor force snapshot: Cook County
Arts, lodging and food service employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Cook County over-indexes on arts, lodging and food service: 23% versus 7% in Minnesota. 2.2% of Cook County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 63% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Cook County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 23.1% | +16.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +4.4 pts |
| Public administration | 10.3% | +6.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | -0.2 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Cook County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Cook County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 86 county-level areas in Minnesota, these are the Cook County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Cook County sits near the top of Minnesota at 55%, the highest of 87. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- Median age: 53.0 in Cook County. Only 1 of 87 Minnesota counties are higher. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- On households without a vehicle, Cook County sits near the bottom of Minnesota at 2.5%, 2nd lowest of 87. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- Few Minnesota counties match Cook County on the share of mobile homes: 1.1% here, 2.9% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 87. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
Cook County housing compared with Minnesota
$886 a month is the median gross rent in Cook County, 31% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. Median value $336,200; median income $72,638; ratio 4.6. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1988.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $886/mo | $1,280/mo | 31% lower |
| Median home value | $336,200 | $329,300 | 2% higher |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | +5.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | -7.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | +7.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% | 2.9% | -1.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 55% | 9% | +46.1 pts |
Cook County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Counties near Cook County
Six nearby counties, 52 to 95 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Lake County, $75,541. Poorest: Gogebic County, $52,732. Cook County: $72,638. The list crosses into Michigan, Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | - | $72,638 | $886/mo | 78% |
| Lake County, MN | 52 mi | $75,541 | $1,093/mo | 83% |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 81 mi | $54,398 | $540/mo | 87% |
| Ashland County, WI | 85 mi | $62,462 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Bayfield County, WI | 87 mi | $71,151 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 92 mi | $52,732 | $623/mo | 81% |
| Houghton County, MI | 95 mi | $58,899 | $840/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Cook County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 36% of Cook County residents live in one of the 2. No Cook County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Marais | city | 1,796 | $70,583 | $900 | 0 mi |
| Lutsen | CDP | 222 | $76,944 | $1,010 | 17 mi |
What the numbers mean for Cook County borrowers
Where the Cook County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 53, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Consolidating cards in Cook County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Age, degrees and coverage in Cook County
College graduates make up 47% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Cook County | vs Minnesota | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.0 | +14.2 yrs | +11.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.6% | +7.2 pts | +24.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | -4.1 pts | -2.9 pts |
| Work from home | 21.6% | +3.9 pts | +12.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | -2.6 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | -1.8 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | +0.9 pts | -3.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | +0.6 pts | -2.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Cook County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
A Cook County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Cook 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, Cook County: $6,053
- Less median rent of $886, which is 15% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,293 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
A household below the $72,638 median has less room than this, often none.
Licensing and complaints for Cook County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response.
Four steps for Cook County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Cook County
Next step up from Cook County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cook County household make?
About $72,638 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the Minnesota median.
How does Cook County rent compare with Minnesota?
$886 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 31% below.
I live near Grand Marais. Which guide is mine?
This one. Grand Marais and the rest of Cook County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cook County or elsewhere in Minnesota, the same rules apply.
Is there a Cook County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.