1st Advantage MortgageGoodhue County households have a median income of $84,171 and median rent of $966 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Goodhue County, and confirm each one's Minnesota license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Goodhue County
- Goodhue County at the extremes
- Work, industries and travel time in Goodhue County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Goodhue County
- Goodhue County income bands
- The communities that make up Goodhue County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- More Goodhue County figures
- What a median Goodhue County budget can carry
- Reading the Goodhue County data as a borrower
- Minnesota lender licensing
- A Goodhue County borrower's checklist
- Beyond Goodhue County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Goodhue County
Goodhue County is home to about 47,943 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 20th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Density: about 63.4 residents per square mile across 757 square miles of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Red Wing is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 16,758 people (35% of the county total).
Goodhue County at the extremes
The 3 Goodhue County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Minnesota, and what each means for a borrower:
- The share of households earning $100,000 or more: 41% in Goodhue County. Only 15 of 87 Minnesota counties are higher. Big incomes invite big loans; borrow only what you need.
- Median household income: $84,171 in Goodhue County. Only 14 of 87 Minnesota counties are higher. Higher local incomes do not change lender rules; your documented income is what counts.
- Households without a vehicle: 6.8% in Goodhue County. Only 15 of 87 Minnesota counties are higher. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
Work, industries and travel time in Goodhue County
Top Goodhue County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 27%; second, manufacturing, 15%. Goodhue County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 5% versus 2% in Minnesota. Unemployment in Goodhue County, ACS five-year: 3.6%; Minnesota: 4.1%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 15%; under 15 minutes: 39%. 6.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Goodhue County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -3.4 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Goodhue County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Goodhue County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $966 in Goodhue County versus $1,280 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Median value $285,100; median income $84,171; ratio 3.4. The ownership rate is 79%. Median construction year: 1973.
| Housing | Goodhue County | Minnesota statewide | Goodhue County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $966/mo | $1,280/mo | 25% lower |
| Median home value | $285,100 | $329,300 | 13% lower |
| Owners | 79% | 72% | +6.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | +1.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | +2.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 2.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | -2.5 pts |
Goodhue 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).
Goodhue County income bands
Median household income in Goodhue County: $84,171 (5% below Minnesota, $89,062). Only 14 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Goodhue County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.3% | -4.5 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 41% have six-figure incomes. Goodhue County counts about 4,448 residents below the poverty line, 9.3% of the population. Gini index for Goodhue County: 0.434. None of these numbers decides a Goodhue County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The communities that make up Goodhue County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 69% of Goodhue County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $67,192 in Red Wing to $104,432 in Pine Island. Rent is cheapest in Wanamingo ($674) and steepest in Cannon Falls ($1,161). Red Wing and every other Goodhue County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Wing | city | 16,758 | $67,192 | $969 | 13 mi |
| Cannon Falls | city | 4,227 | $84,097 | $1,161 | 11 mi |
| Zumbrota | city | 3,914 | $78,156 | $834 | 8 mi |
| Pine Island | city | 3,580 | $104,432 | $1,110 | 15 mi |
| Kenyon | city | 1,824 | $82,500 | $869 | 16 mi |
| Wanamingo | city | 1,389 | $71,731 | $674 | 8 mi |
| Goodhue | city | 1,074 | $89,398 | $936 | 4 mi |
| Bellechester | city | 227 | $64,167 | $940 | 10 mi |
| Frontenac | CDP | 188 | $88,542 | n/a | 19 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 25 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Dakota County leads the group on income ($106,318), Wabasha County trails ($82,007), and Goodhue County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodhue County | - | $84,171 | $966/mo | 79% |
| Dakota County, MN | 25 mi | $106,318 | $1,548/mo | 75% |
| Wabasha County, MN | 25 mi | $82,007 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Pierce County, WI | 26 mi | $92,109 | $1,044/mo | 75% |
| Dodge County, MN | 28 mi | $95,739 | $1,020/mo | 87% |
| Rice County, MN | 29 mi | $83,181 | $1,083/mo | 76% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 32 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
More Goodhue County figures
In Goodhue County, 28% of adults have at least a four-year degree (39% in Minnesota). The uninsured rate is 5.9%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Indicator | Goodhue County | +/- Minnesota | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.9% | -11.5 pts | +5.8 pts |
| Work from home | 10.7% | -6.9 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Median age | 42.5 | +3.7 yrs | +1.0 yrs |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | +1.2 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | +0.6 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | -0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | +0.1 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 0.0 pts | -3.9 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Goodhue County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
What a median Goodhue County budget can carry
Here is the Goodhue County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $7,014 a month: gross income for a household at the Goodhue County median
- Housing at the median rent of $966 uses 14%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,525 total minus rent leaves $1,559
- $2,050: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Homeowners in Goodhue County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Reading the Goodhue County data as a borrower
What the Goodhue County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 41% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Goodhue County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Goodhue County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Goodhue County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Minnesota lender licensing
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. If a Goodhue County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Minnesota page has statewide figures to set beside Goodhue County's.
A Goodhue County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Goodhue County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Minnesota borrowers.
- Ask a Goodhue County credit union about member loans.
Beyond Goodhue County
Next step up from Goodhue County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Goodhue County earn?
The median is $84,171; 41% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Goodhue County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $966 median rent and $7,014 median monthly income, rent alone uses 14%; add other debts before a new payment.
I live in a small Goodhue County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Red Wing, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota, Pine Island, Kenyon and 4 more.
Does living in Goodhue 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 Goodhue County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Goodhue County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.