1st Advantage MortgageCottonwood County households have a median income of $72,941 and median rent of $817 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Cottonwood County
- Renting and owning in Cottonwood County
- What Cottonwood County households earn
- The Cottonwood County job picture
- Cottonwood County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cottonwood County
- Budget math at the Cottonwood County median
- Borrowing situations common in Cottonwood County
- People and households in Cottonwood County
- A Cottonwood County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- More guides for Cottonwood County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cottonwood County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cottonwood County's population at 11,458; only 62 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 640 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 18 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cottonwood County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Cottonwood County, Windom leads by population with about 4,799; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Cottonwood County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $817 in Cottonwood County versus $1,280 statewide. By the Census definition, 30% of Cottonwood County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $169,300, a typical Cottonwood County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Cottonwood County households own their home and 26% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Housing | Cottonwood County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $817/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $169,300 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Cottonwood 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.
What Cottonwood County households earn
Cottonwood County households have a median income of $72,941 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 49th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Income band | Share in Cottonwood County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.5% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -6.5 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 15.0% of Cottonwood County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.430 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Cottonwood County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Cottonwood County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 72% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Cottonwood County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.9% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.3% | +9.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cottonwood County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cottonwood County's, from 24 to 37 miles away. Income ranges from $66,101 in Nobles County to $75,743 in Jackson County; 2 of these neighbors top Cottonwood County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood County | - | $72,941 | $817/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, MN | 24 mi | $75,743 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Redwood County, MN | 27 mi | $67,866 | $757/mo | 78% |
| Brown County, MN | 28 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Watonwan County, MN | 28 mi | $71,699 | $834/mo | 78% |
| Murray County, MN | 29 mi | $74,033 | $810/mo | 82% |
| Nobles County, MN | 37 mi | $66,101 | $896/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cottonwood County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Cottonwood County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 8,368 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Windom has the highest median household income on the list ($74,899) and Westbrook the lowest ($35,119), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Cottonwood County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windom | city | 4,799 | $74,899 | $806 | 10 mi |
| Mountain Lake | city | 2,070 | $66,490 | $929 | 14 mi |
| Westbrook | city | 792 | $35,119 | $605 | 13 mi |
| Jeffers | city | 368 | $50,500 | $694 | 3 mi |
| Storden | city | 244 | $83,750 | $1,037 | 7 mi |
| Bingham Lake | city | 95 | $88,125 | $917 | 10 mi |
Budget math at the Cottonwood County median
How much room does a median Cottonwood County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,078 before taxes
- Less median rent of $817, which is 13% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,310 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,918 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Cottonwood County
What the Cottonwood County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Cottonwood County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Cottonwood County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
People and households in Cottonwood County
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.9%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Indicator | Cottonwood County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cottonwood County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 65.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
A Cottonwood County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Consumer lenders serving Cottonwood County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Cottonwood County
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cottonwood County a high-income county?
Its $72,941 median ranks 49th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Cottonwood County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $817 a month; 30% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Cottonwood County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Windom, Mountain Lake, Westbrook, Jeffers, Storden.
Does living in Cottonwood County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Cottonwood County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Cottonwood County?
Start with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.