1st Advantage MortgageGrant County households have a median income of $73,917 and median rent of $797 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Grant County, MN: the basics
- What it costs to live in Grant County
- What Grant County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Grant County
- Grant County towns compared
- Grant County and the counties next door
- Who lives in Grant County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Grant County borrowers
- Budget math at the Grant County median
- Lender oversight for Grant County
- Steps before you apply in Grant County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grant County, MN: the basics
Grant County is home to about 6,127 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 79th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Spread over 548 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Elbow Lake, with about 1,301 residents, or 21% of the county. With so few households sampled, Grant County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Grant County
A typical Grant County rental runs $797 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Minnesota. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $191,000, about 2.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 79% of homes. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Grant County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $797/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $191,000 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 2.9% | 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).
What Grant County households earn
At $73,917, the typical Grant County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 46th of 87.
| Households earning | Grant County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Grant County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.6%, 2 points higher than the state's 9.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.469 here. A household earning below the $73,917 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Grant County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Grant County residents work in education and health care and 12% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% 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 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grant County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.2% | +10.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Grant County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Grant County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Grant County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 3,507 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbow Lake | city | 1,301 | $59,792 | $742 | 4 mi |
| Hoffman | city | 730 | $51,500 | $866 | 13 mi |
| Herman | city | 441 | $82,917 | $540 | 10 mi |
| Ashby | city | 394 | $63,333 | $732 | 15 mi |
| Barrett | city | 349 | $60,000 | $1,337 | 5 mi |
| Wendell | city | 186 | $61,250 | $743 | 8 mi |
| Norcross | city | 106 | $118,056 | n/a | 10 mi |
Grant County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Stevens County at 23 miles out to Wilkin County at 37. Income ranges from $62,989 in Traverse County to $79,043 in Douglas County; 3 of these neighbors top Grant County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $73,917 | $797/mo | 79% |
| Stevens County, MN | 23 mi | $75,733 | $951/mo | 63% |
| Traverse County, MN | 25 mi | $62,989 | $615/mo | 82% |
| Douglas County, MN | 26 mi | $79,043 | $927/mo | 76% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 36 mi | $72,255 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Pope County, MN | 36 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
| Wilkin County, MN | 37 mi | $71,410 | $564/mo | 80% |
Who lives in Grant County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.1%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Residents | Grant County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.0% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
What the numbers mean for Grant County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grant County borrowers.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Budget math at the Grant County median
Here is the Grant County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,160 a month: gross income for a household at the Grant County median
- Rent at the median, $797, takes 13% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,421 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Grant County's.
Lender oversight for Grant County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Grant County
Steps that save money for Grant County residents:
- Price the Grant County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Minnesota.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grant County a high-income county?
Its $73,917 median ranks 46th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Grant County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $797 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Grant County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Elbow Lake?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Grant County, such as Hoffman, Herman, Ashby.
Can Grant 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.