1st Advantage MortgageHennepin County households have a median income of $97,653 and median rent of $1,487 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
- Hennepin County, MN: the basics
- Renting and owning in Hennepin County
- Income in Hennepin County compared with Minnesota
- The Hennepin County job picture
- Hennepin County towns compared
- How Hennepin County compares with nearby counties
- Hennepin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Hennepin County
- Debt-to-income at Hennepin County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Hennepin County
- Checklist for Hennepin County applicants
- More guides for Hennepin County
- Frequently asked questions
Hennepin County, MN: the basics
With an estimated 1,269,496 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hennepin County ranks 1st of 87 in Minnesota for population. Land area is 554 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,291 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 42 places in the county (42 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Minneapolis, with about 427,246 residents, or 34% of the county.
Renting and owning in Hennepin County
A typical Hennepin County rental runs $1,487 a month including utilities, which is 16% above Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. Home values center on $392,900, or 4.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 63%. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Hennepin County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,487/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $392,900 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
Income in Hennepin County compared with Minnesota
Half of Hennepin County households take in less than $97,653 a year and half take in more, 10% above the Minnesota median of $89,062. Only 8 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Hennepin County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.2% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.7% | -3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.2% | +5.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 49% of Hennepin County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. 10.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.482 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $97,653 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Hennepin County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Hennepin County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (15% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Hennepin County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Hennepin County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.5% | +4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.9% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Hennepin County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 42 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Hennepin County residents live in one of the 42. Medina has the highest median household income on the list ($230,859) and Spring Park the lowest ($48,315), counting places with at least 500 residents. 7 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | city | 427,246 | $80,846 | $1,371 | 11 mi |
| Bloomington | city | 88,665 | $93,211 | $1,561 | 14 mi |
| Brooklyn Park | city | 83,876 | $89,891 | $1,325 | 10 mi |
| Plymouth | city | 79,220 | $136,534 | $1,766 | 1 mi |
| Maple Grove | city | 71,173 | $132,731 | $1,868 | 7 mi |
| Eden Prairie | city | 63,051 | $130,489 | $1,833 | 11 mi |
| Edina | city | 53,262 | $128,767 | $1,844 | 10 mi |
| Minnetonka | city | 53,064 | $119,517 | $1,779 | 5 mi |
| St. Louis Park | city | 49,594 | $101,648 | $1,644 | 7 mi |
| Richfield | city | 36,642 | $85,132 | $1,393 | 13 mi |
| Brooklyn Center | city | 32,479 | $72,535 | $1,376 | 9 mi |
| Chanhassen | city | 26,006 | $143,651 | $1,831 | 11 mi |
| Champlin | city | 23,294 | $116,102 | $1,689 | 12 mi |
| Crystal | city | 22,476 | $92,513 | $1,467 | 6 mi |
How Hennepin County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Ramsey County at 18 miles out to Washington County at 29. Income ranges from $81,568 in Ramsey County to $125,946 in Carver County; 5 of these neighbors top Hennepin County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | - | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
| Ramsey County, MN | 18 mi | $81,568 | $1,329/mo | 61% |
| Carver County, MN | 20 mi | $125,946 | $1,514/mo | 81% |
| Anoka County, MN | 22 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Scott County, MN | 25 mi | $119,314 | $1,568/mo | 84% |
| Wright County, MN | 27 mi | $107,209 | $1,288/mo | 84% |
| Washington County, MN | 29 mi | $115,345 | $1,710/mo | 81% |
Hennepin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 54% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hennepin County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 54.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 25.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 49.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Before borrowing in Hennepin County
Based on the Hennepin County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Hennepin County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Hennepin County's medians
How much room does a median Hennepin County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $8,138 a month: gross income for a household at the Hennepin County median
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,487)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,443 a month
- $2,012: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Hennepin County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hennepin County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Hennepin County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hennepin County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- 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.
More guides for Hennepin County
Guides that cover parts of Hennepin County:
- Minneapolis, MN
- Bloomington, MN
- Plymouth, MN
- Eden Prairie, MN
- Edina, MN
- Minnetonka, MN
- St. Louis Park, MN
- Minnesota state guide
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hennepin County household make?
About $97,653 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% above the Minnesota median.
Is Hennepin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,487 against $1,280 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Hennepin County?
By population: Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove. The county has 42 Census places in all.
Can Hennepin 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.
Where can someone in Hennepin County check a lender's license?
With the Minnesota Department of Commerce. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.