1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kanabec County household earns $71,460, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Minnesota license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Kanabec County
- Kanabec County housing compared with Minnesota
- Paychecks and income spread in Kanabec County
- The Kanabec County job picture
- Kanabec County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Kanabec County
- Debt-to-income at Kanabec County's medians
- Kanabec County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Kanabec County
- Licensing and complaints for Kanabec County
- A Kanabec County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Kanabec County
Kanabec County is home to about 16,390 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 52nd most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Land area is 522 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Mora is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 3,732 people (23% of the county total).
Kanabec County housing compared with Minnesota
A typical Kanabec County rental runs $962 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,100, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 85%. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $962/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $228,100 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.8% | 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).
Paychecks and income spread in Kanabec County
Kanabec County households have a median income of $71,460 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 58th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Household income | Kanabec County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.3% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -8.8 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.0%, 1 point higher than the state's 9.3%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kanabec County median.
The Kanabec County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 15%. Construction stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 3.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Kanabec County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 15.2% | +8.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.3% | +1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Kanabec County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 16 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $71,146 in Pine County to $105,466 in Sherburne County; 5 of these neighbors top Kanabec County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanabec County | - | $71,460 | $962/mo | 85% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 16 mi | $72,729 | $903/mo | 78% |
| Isanti County, MN | 27 mi | $87,440 | $1,273/mo | 84% |
| Pine County, MN | 28 mi | $71,146 | $877/mo | 82% |
| Chisago County, MN | 36 mi | $99,400 | $1,186/mo | 86% |
| Benton County, MN | 38 mi | $74,410 | $982/mo | 67% |
| Sherburne County, MN | 41 mi | $105,466 | $1,127/mo | 83% |
Towns and communities in Kanabec County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Kanabec County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 4,248 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mora | city | 3,732 | $52,535 | $788 | 5 mi |
| Ogilvie | city | 322 | $52,500 | $821 | 10 mi |
| Grasston | city | 112 | $97,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Quamba | city | 82 | $50,000 | n/a | 6 mi |
Debt-to-income at Kanabec County's medians
How much room does a median Kanabec County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,955 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $962, takes 16% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $2,382 total minus rent leaves $1,420
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Kanabec County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.6%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Measure | Kanabec County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 24.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Kanabec County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Kanabec County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 31% of Kanabec County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Kanabec County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Licensing and complaints for Kanabec County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kanabec County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
A Kanabec County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Kanabec County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kanabec County household make?
About $71,460 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Minnesota median.
How much is rent in Kanabec County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $962 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Kanabec County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Mora, Ogilvie, Grasston, Quamba.
Will a Kanabec County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Kanabec County residents?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce licenses consumer lenders in Minnesota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.