1st Advantage MortgageAbout 84% of Isanti County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $87,440. 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
- A quick profile of Isanti County
- How much Isanti County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Isanti County
- Work, industries and travel time in Isanti County
- Isanti County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Isanti County
- Room for a loan payment in Isanti County
- Reading the Isanti County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Isanti County, in numbers
- Four steps for Isanti County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Isanti County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Isanti County
Roughly 42,596 residents live in Isanti County, Minnesota, 24th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 436 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 98 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area. Cambridge is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 10,307 people (24% of the county total).
How much Isanti County households make
At $87,440, the typical Isanti County household income is 33% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 13th of 87.
| Household income | Isanti County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.0% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.9% | +4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -5.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Isanti County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.3%. For a borrower in Isanti 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 Isanti County
A typical Isanti County rental runs $1,273 a month including utilities. By the Census definition, 50% of Isanti County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $306,200, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Housing | Isanti County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,273/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $306,200 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Isanti County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Work, industries and travel time in Isanti County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 6% for Minnesota. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Isanti County. Long commutes are common here: 30% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Isanti County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.5% | +5.1 pts |
| Construction | 13.1% | +6.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Isanti County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 35 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Isanti County; Sherburne County is highest at $105,466 and Kanabec County lowest at $71,460.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isanti County | - | $87,440 | $1,273/mo | 84% |
| Chisago County, MN | 19 mi | $99,400 | $1,186/mo | 86% |
| Anoka County, MN | 20 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Sherburne County, MN | 24 mi | $105,466 | $1,127/mo | 83% |
| Kanabec County, MN | 27 mi | $71,460 | $962/mo | 85% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 30 mi | $72,729 | $903/mo | 78% |
| Benton County, MN | 35 mi | $74,410 | $982/mo | 67% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Isanti County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Isanti County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 19,349 residents, leaving about 55% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $87,500 at the median in Isanti, $59,375 in Braham. Rent is cheapest in Braham ($788) and steepest in Cambridge ($1,302). No Isanti County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | city | 10,307 | $69,154 | $1,302 | 3 mi |
| Isanti | city | 7,210 | $87,500 | $1,256 | 6 mi |
| Braham | city | 1,732 | $59,375 | $788 | 13 mi |
| Stanchfield | CDP | 100 | $68,333 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Isanti County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Isanti County's medians:
- Start: $7,287 gross per month ($87,440 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,273 uses 17%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,642 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Isanti County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Isanti County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 30% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Isanti County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Isanti County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Isanti County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Isanti County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Isanti County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.1% |
| 60+ min | 14.7% |
Four steps for Isanti County borrowers
Quick steps for Isanti County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Isanti County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Isanti County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Isanti County resident can confirm its license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Isanti County a high-income county?
Its $87,440 median ranks 13th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Isanti County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,273 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Isanti County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Cambridge, Isanti, Braham, Stanchfield.
Can Isanti 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.
Is there a Isanti County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.