1st Advantage MortgageFillmore County households have a median income of $77,512 and median rent of $797 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
- Who lives in Fillmore County
- Jobs and commutes in Fillmore County
- What Fillmore County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Fillmore County
- Fillmore County and the counties next door
- Places inside Fillmore County
- Who lives in Fillmore County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Fillmore County
- Budget math at the Fillmore County median
- Before you sign
- Minnesota rules that apply in Fillmore County
- More guides for Fillmore County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Fillmore County
Roughly 21,414 residents live in Fillmore County, Minnesota, 47th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 861 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.9 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (14 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Chatfield, with about 2,559 residents, or 12% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Fillmore County
The biggest employer of Fillmore County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by manufacturing (11%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Fillmore County. About 73% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Fillmore County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.9% | +5.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.2% | +6.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Fillmore County households earn
The median household income in Fillmore County is $77,512; statewide it is $89,062, so Fillmore County runs 13% below Minnesota as a whole. In the state ranking that is 27th of 87.
| Band | Fillmore County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.7% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.3% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -7.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Fillmore County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. 8.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.407 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Fillmore 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Fillmore County
A typical Fillmore County rental runs $797 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $221,100, about 2.9 times the median household income. 83% of Fillmore County households own their home and 17% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1966.
| Fillmore County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $797/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $221,100 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Fillmore 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.
Fillmore County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Fillmore County's, from 25 to 33 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Fillmore County; Olmsted County is highest at $95,406 and Howard County lowest at $67,446. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Fillmore County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fillmore County | - | $77,512 | $797/mo | 83% |
| Howard County, IA | 25 mi | $67,446 | $713/mo | 77% |
| Winona County, MN | 26 mi | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 27 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 29 mi | $79,066 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Houston County, MN | 30 mi | $79,825 | $879/mo | 83% |
| Mower County, MN | 33 mi | $73,074 | $927/mo | 78% |
Places inside Fillmore County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Fillmore County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 13,231 people, so roughly 38% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $59,392 in Mabel to $106,719 in Rushford Village. Live in one of these Fillmore County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatfield | city | 2,559 | $96,078 | $748 | 12 mi |
| Spring Valley | city | 2,307 | $66,339 | $915 | 15 mi |
| Rushford | city | 1,826 | $76,638 | $857 | 19 mi |
| Preston | city | 1,362 | $63,984 | $769 | 1 mi |
| Harmony | city | 1,024 | $68,125 | $742 | 10 mi |
| Rushford Village | city | 809 | $106,719 | $950 | 18 mi |
| Lanesboro | city | 744 | $75,313 | $518 | 7 mi |
| Mabel | city | 730 | $59,392 | $729 | 20 mi |
| Fountain | city | 493 | $78,750 | $630 | 5 mi |
| Canton | city | 398 | $53,056 | $610 | 13 mi |
| Wykoff | city | 377 | $65,446 | $823 | 9 mi |
| Ostrander | city | 313 | $74,063 | $768 | 17 mi |
| Peterson | city | 244 | $71,000 | $650 | 15 mi |
| Whalan | city | 45 | $125,625 | n/a | 9 mi |
Who lives in Fillmore County, in numbers
24% of Fillmore County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Fillmore County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Fillmore County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Before borrowing in Fillmore County
Based on the Fillmore County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Fillmore County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Budget math at the Fillmore County median
Here is the Fillmore County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $77,512 a year is $6,459 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $797 uses 12%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,325 total minus rent leaves $1,528
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Fillmore County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fillmore County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Fillmore County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Minnesota rules that apply in Fillmore County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Fillmore County resident can confirm its license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
More guides for Fillmore County
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Fillmore County earn?
The median is $77,512; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Fillmore County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $797 against $1,280 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Fillmore County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Fillmore County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Chatfield, Spring Valley, Rushford, Preston, Harmony and 9 more.
Can Fillmore County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.