1st Advantage MortgageIn Douglas County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $79,043 a year and the typical rent is $927. 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
- Douglas County, MN: the basics
- Housing costs in Douglas County
- What Douglas County households earn
- The Douglas County job picture
- The counties around Douglas County
- Places inside Douglas County
- Debt-to-income at Douglas County's medians
- Before borrowing in Douglas County
- Douglas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Douglas County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Douglas County, MN: the basics
Roughly 39,575 residents live in Douglas County, Minnesota, 27th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 637 square miles, that is close to 62 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (11 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Alexandria, with about 14,735 residents, or 37% of the county.
Housing costs in Douglas County
A typical Douglas County rental runs $927 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Minnesota. By the Census definition, 43% of Douglas County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $321,400, or 4.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Home costs | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $927/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $321,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Douglas County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
What Douglas County households earn
Half of Douglas County households take in less than $79,043 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
| Income band | Share in Douglas County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -4.8 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.0% of Douglas County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.442 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Douglas County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Douglas County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 13% for Minnesota. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Douglas County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.3% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Douglas County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 47 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Douglas County; Pope County is highest at $76,220 and Swift County lowest at $60,412.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | - | $79,043 | $927/mo | 76% |
| Pope County, MN | 24 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
| Grant County, MN | 26 mi | $73,917 | $797/mo | 79% |
| Todd County, MN | 28 mi | $67,662 | $908/mo | 83% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 35 mi | $72,255 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Stevens County, MN | 35 mi | $75,733 | $951/mo | 63% |
| Swift County, MN | 47 mi | $60,412 | $920/mo | 72% |
Places inside Douglas County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Douglas County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $50,833 in Osakis to $69,792 in Carlos. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | city | 14,735 | $61,374 | $934 | 6 mi |
| Osakis | city | 1,623 | $50,833 | $477 | 16 mi |
| Evansville | city | 550 | $64,028 | $700 | 12 mi |
| Carlos | city | 512 | $69,792 | $925 | 9 mi |
| Brandon | city | 451 | $73,375 | $860 | 7 mi |
| Miltona | city | 418 | $62,917 | $858 | 11 mi |
| Garfield | city | 282 | $56,696 | $481 | 2 mi |
| Kensington | city | 240 | $46,000 | $650 | 16 mi |
| Forada | city | 161 | $80,500 | $1,094 | 11 mi |
| Nelson | city | 155 | $57,188 | $1,000 | 10 mi |
| Millerville | city | 116 | $71,591 | $1,000 | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Douglas County's medians
How much room does a median Douglas 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: $6,587 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($927)
- $1,708: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $927, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Douglas County
Where the Douglas County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Douglas County borrower sees (free reports).
Douglas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.0%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Residents | Douglas County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.0% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Douglas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Douglas County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Douglas County, check 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.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Douglas County?
$79,043 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 24th of 87 in the state.
How does Douglas County rent compare with Minnesota?
$927 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 28% below.
Should Douglas County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Douglas County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Douglas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Alexandria, Osakis, Evansville, Carlos, Brandon.
Are Douglas County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.