1st Advantage MortgageThe median Crow Wing County household earns $72,589, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- Crow Wing County, MN: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Crow Wing County
- How much Crow Wing County households make
- How Crow Wing County residents earn a living
- Crow Wing County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Crow Wing County
- Crow Wing County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Crow Wing County
- Debt-to-income at Crow Wing County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Crow Wing County
- Checklist for Crow Wing County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Crow Wing County, MN: the basics
With an estimated 67,686 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Crow Wing County ranks 15th of 87 in Minnesota for population. It covers 998 square miles of land, or about 68 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Crow Wing County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 19 Census places inside Crow Wing County, Brainerd leads by population with about 14,468; 18 of the 19 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Crow Wing County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $971 in Crow Wing County versus $1,280 statewide. By the Census definition, 45% of Crow Wing County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $306,800, about 4.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Crow Wing County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $971/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $306,800 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.0% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 31% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How much Crow Wing County households make
The median household income in Crow Wing County is $72,589; statewide it is $89,062, so Crow Wing County runs 18% below Minnesota as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Crow Wing County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -5.9 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.9%, 1 point higher than the state's 9.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.437 here. For a borrower in Crow Wing 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.
How Crow Wing County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 6% for Minnesota. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Crow Wing County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Crow Wing County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Crow Wing County's, from 32 to 49 miles away. Income ranges from $60,833 in Aitkin County to $72,729 in Mille Lacs County; 1 of these neighbors top Crow Wing County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Wing County | - | $72,589 | $971/mo | 77% |
| Aitkin County, MN | 32 mi | $60,833 | $869/mo | 85% |
| Morrison County, MN | 34 mi | $69,446 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Cass County, MN | 34 mi | $68,874 | $863/mo | 86% |
| Wadena County, MN | 44 mi | $61,467 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 44 mi | $72,729 | $903/mo | 78% |
| Todd County, MN | 49 mi | $67,662 | $908/mo | 83% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Crow Wing County
19 Census places fall mainly inside Crow Wing County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 38,791 residents, leaving about 43% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,554 in Crosby to $100,000 in Nisswa. Rent is cheapest in Emily ($680) and steepest in Baxter ($1,154). Live in one of these Crow Wing County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd | city | 14,468 | $56,111 | $827 | 11 mi |
| Baxter | city | 8,966 | $70,688 | $1,154 | 14 mi |
| Breezy Point | city | 2,687 | $85,938 | $1,137 | 10 mi |
| Crosslake | city | 2,521 | $79,635 | $1,042 | 13 mi |
| Crosby | city | 2,218 | $41,554 | $849 | 6 mi |
| Pequot Lakes | city | 2,079 | $63,699 | $847 | 12 mi |
| Nisswa | city | 1,954 | $100,000 | $867 | 11 mi |
| Deerwood | city | 710 | $62,981 | $711 | 8 mi |
| Emily | city | 693 | $68,250 | $680 | 20 mi |
| Ironton | city | 621 | $62,813 | $1,014 | 3 mi |
| Jenkins | city | 508 | $74,250 | $1,018 | 16 mi |
| Fifty Lakes | city | 478 | $84,615 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Cuyuna | city | 250 | $81,875 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Garrison | city | 156 | $51,250 | $925 | 18 mi |
Crow Wing County residents: age, schooling, coverage
29% of Crow Wing County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.2%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Residents | Crow Wing County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.3% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Before borrowing in Crow Wing County
Based on the Crow Wing County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fixed incomes. Crow Wing County's median age is 45.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Crow Wing County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Debt-to-income at Crow Wing County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Crow Wing County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,049 a month: gross income for a household at the Crow Wing County median
- Housing at the median rent of $971 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,207 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,601 total minus rent leaves $1,630
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Crow Wing County
Consumer lenders serving Crow Wing County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
Checklist for Crow Wing County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Crow Wing County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Crow Wing County?
$72,589 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 52nd of 87 in the state.
How does Crow Wing County rent compare with Minnesota?
$971 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 24% below.
I own my home in Crow Wing County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Crow Wing County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 19 Census places: Brainerd, Baxter, Breezy Point, Crosslake, Crosby.
Will a Crow Wing County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.