1st Advantage MortgageIn Kittson County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $76,100 a year and the typical rent is $757. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Kittson County
- The Kittson County job picture
- Income in Kittson County compared with Minnesota
- Rent, home values and ownership in Kittson County
- Counties near Kittson County
- Places inside Kittson County
- Budget math at the Kittson County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Kittson County
- Kittson County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Kittson County
- Licensing and complaints for Kittson County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Kittson County
Kittson County is home to about 4,084 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 84th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. It covers 1,099 square miles of land, or about 4 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kittson County is not part of any metropolitan area. Hallock is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 829 people (20% of the county total). Because Kittson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The Kittson County job picture
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 2% for Minnesota. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.3% of the total (6.7% statewide).
| Where residents work | Kittson County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -5.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.8% | +13.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -4.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Kittson County compared with Minnesota
Kittson County households have a median income of $76,100 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 34th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Household income | Kittson County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -5.7 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.1%, the same as the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.415 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kittson County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Kittson County
A typical Kittson County rental runs $757 a month including utilities, which is 41% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $134,800, about 1.8 times the median household income. 83% of Kittson County households own their home and 17% rent.
| Measure | Kittson County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $757/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $134,800 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Kittson 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.
Counties near Kittson County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (34 to 66 miles). Income ranges from $68,075 in Grand Forks County to $77,325 in Pennington County; 1 of these neighbors top Kittson County's median. Some neighbors are in North Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kittson County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittson County | - | $76,100 | $757/mo | 83% |
| Marshall County, MN | 34 mi | $72,543 | $690/mo | 83% |
| Pembina County, ND | 35 mi | $68,393 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Roseau County, MN | 44 mi | $74,474 | $880/mo | 79% |
| Walsh County, ND | 51 mi | $71,944 | $748/mo | 76% |
| Pennington County, MN | 60 mi | $77,325 | $862/mo | 72% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 66 mi | $68,075 | $992/mo | 52% |
Places inside Kittson County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Kittson County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 2,256 residents, leaving about 45% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallock | city | 829 | $68,854 | $838 | 7 mi |
| Karlstad | city | 622 | $64,000 | $619 | 18 mi |
| Lancaster | city | 315 | $64,306 | $900 | 6 mi |
| Lake Bronson | city | 190 | $49,375 | $645 | 6 mi |
| Kennedy | city | 170 | $39,688 | n/a | 11 mi |
| St. Vincent | city | 45 | $58,750 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Humboldt | city | 44 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Halma | city | 36 | $70,313 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Donaldson | city | 5 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Kittson County median
How much room does a median Kittson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,342 a month: gross income for a household at the Kittson County median
- 12% goes to median rent ($757)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,970 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Kittson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Kittson County
A few patterns in the Kittson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Kittson County's median age is 47.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Kittson County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Kittson County households compared
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. 2.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Kittson County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Kittson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Steps before you apply in Kittson County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Kittson County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kittson County a high-income county?
Its $76,100 median ranks 34th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Kittson County rent compare with Minnesota?
$757 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 41% below.
Should Kittson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Kittson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Kittson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Hallock, Karlstad, Lancaster, Lake Bronson, Kennedy.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Kittson County or elsewhere in Minnesota, the same rules apply.