1st Advantage MortgageHouston County households have a median income of $79,825 and median rent of $879 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Houston County offer.
On this page
- Houston County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Houston County
- Where Houston County works
- What stands out in Houston County
- Earnings across Houston County households
- How Houston County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Houston County
- Borrowing situations common in Houston County
- What a median Houston County budget can carry
- Age, degrees and coverage in Houston County
- Who licenses lenders for Houston County residents
- Four steps for Houston County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Houston County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Houston County's population at 18,653; only 50 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 33.8 residents per square mile across 552 square miles of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan area. La Crescent (5,251 people) heads the county's list of 7 Census places, 7 incorporated and 0 census-designated.
Renting and owning in Houston County
Houston County rent at the median: $879 a month, utilities in ($1,280 in Minnesota). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 49% in Houston County, 48% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $239,000, about 3.0 times the median household income. In Houston County, 83% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1972. Against the median U.S. county, Houston County rent is about level with.
| Cost | Houston County | Minnesota figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 83% | 72% | +11.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $879/mo | $1,280/mo | 31% lower |
| Median home value | $239,000 | $329,300 | 27% lower |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | -2.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | +1.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | +0.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% | 2.9% | +0.2 pts |
With 83% of Houston County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Where Houston County works
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Houston County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 26% for Minnesota. Unemployment in Houston County, ACS five-year: 1.6%; Minnesota: 4.1%. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Houston County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.1% | -5.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.1% | -2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Houston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What stands out in Houston County
- On households without a vehicle, Houston County sits near the bottom of Minnesota at 3.2%, 5th lowest of 87. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- Houston County ranks 4th lowest of 87 Minnesota counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 1.6%, against 4.1% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Houston County ranks 7th lowest of 87 Minnesota counties for the uninsured rate: 3.2%, against 4.7% statewide. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
Earnings across Houston County households
Half of Houston County households take in less than $79,825 a year and half take in more, 10% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. In the state ranking that is 22nd of 87.
| Household income | Houston County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.5% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | -4.3 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Houston County: 6.6%; Minnesota: 9.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.437 here. None of these numbers decides a Houston County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Houston County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from La Crosse County at 26 miles out to Vernon County at 34. Income ranges from $70,694 in Allamakee County to $79,066 in Winneshiek County; none of these neighbors top Houston County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa and Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Houston County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County | - | $79,825 | $879/mo | 83% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 26 mi | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Winona County, MN | 26 mi | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 28 mi | $70,694 | $796/mo | 80% |
| Fillmore County, MN | 30 mi | $77,512 | $797/mo | 83% |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 31 mi | $79,066 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Vernon County, WI | 34 mi | $71,893 | $836/mo | 80% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Houston County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Houston County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $85,368 at the median in La Crescent, $55,759 in Houston. Median rent ranges from $570 in Brownsville to $978 in Spring Grove. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crescent | city | 5,251 | $85,368 | $889 | 15 mi |
| Caledonia | city | 2,820 | $76,477 | $839 | 2 mi |
| Spring Grove | city | 1,177 | $59,625 | $978 | 10 mi |
| Houston | city | 982 | $55,759 | $928 | 7 mi |
| Hokah | city | 668 | $60,781 | $912 | 10 mi |
| Brownsville | city | 609 | $66,750 | $570 | 11 mi |
| Eitzen | city | 281 | $53,438 | n/a | 11 mi |
Borrowing situations common in Houston County
Based on the Houston County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Older households. A 45.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
What a median Houston County budget can carry
How much room does a median Houston County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,652 a month: gross income for a household at the Houston County median
- Rent at the median, $879, takes 13% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,516 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Age, degrees and coverage in Houston County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 30% of Houston County adults. The uninsured rate is 3.2%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| People and households | Houston County | Compared with Minnesota | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.1% | -9.3 pts | +7.9 pts |
| Median age | 45.1 | +6.3 yrs | +3.6 yrs |
| Work from home | 13.6% | -4.0 pts | +5.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | -3.4 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | -2.7 pts | -6.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | -2.5 pts | -2.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | -1.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | -1.4 pts | -4.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Houston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Houston County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Houston County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB.
Four steps for Houston County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Houston County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Minnesota.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Houston County a high-income county?
Its $79,825 median ranks 22nd of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Houston County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $879 against $1,280 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Houston County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 83% of Houston County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Does this page cover La Crescent?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Houston County, such as Caledonia, Spring Grove, Houston.
Are Houston 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.