1st Advantage MortgageIn Mahnomen County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $59,441 a year and the typical rent is $696. 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
- Mahnomen County, MN: the basics
- The Mahnomen County job picture
- What Mahnomen County households earn
- Renting and owning in Mahnomen County
- How Mahnomen County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Mahnomen County
- What a median Mahnomen County budget can carry
- Who lives in Mahnomen County, in numbers
- Reading the Mahnomen County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Minnesota rules that apply in Mahnomen County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mahnomen County, MN: the basics
Mahnomen County is home to about 5,358 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 82nd most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Land area is 558 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 10 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Mahnomen County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (3 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Mahnomen, with about 1,049 residents, or 20% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Mahnomen County figure on this page as a rough guide.
The Mahnomen County job picture
The biggest employer of Mahnomen County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (15%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (15% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 9.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 9.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Mahnomen County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.8% | +7.7 pts |
| Public administration | 10.1% | +6.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +5.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Mahnomen County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Mahnomen County households earn
Mahnomen County households have a median income of $59,441 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 87th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Households earning | Mahnomen County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.1% | +12.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -9.6 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.3% of Mahnomen County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. A household earning below the $59,441 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Mahnomen County
Renters in Mahnomen County pay a median of $696 a month, 46% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. Home values center on $161,900, or 2.7 years of median income. 73% of Mahnomen County households own their home and 27% rent. The median home was built in 1975, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Mahnomen County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $696/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,900 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
Because most Mahnomen County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Mahnomen County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Clearwater County at 27 miles out to Clay County at 44. Income ranges from $64,475 in Clearwater County to $81,172 in Clay County; all six of these neighbors top Mahnomen County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahnomen County | - | $59,441 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Clearwater County, MN | 27 mi | $64,475 | $742/mo | 80% |
| Becker County, MN | 27 mi | $71,388 | $920/mo | 77% |
| Norman County, MN | 31 mi | $72,260 | $774/mo | 79% |
| Red Lake County, MN | 39 mi | $77,188 | $583/mo | 83% |
| Polk County, MN | 41 mi | $73,107 | $855/mo | 71% |
| Clay County, MN | 44 mi | $81,172 | $1,019/mo | 66% |
Towns and communities in Mahnomen County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Mahnomen County residents live in one of the 12. Live in one of these Mahnomen County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahnomen | city | 1,049 | $45,341 | $753 | 7 mi |
| Naytahwaush | CDP | 478 | $37,917 | $383 | 9 mi |
| Waubun | city | 419 | $58,036 | $650 | 12 mi |
| Riverland | CDP | 239 | $51,250 | $458 | 7 mi |
| Twin Lakes | CDP | 197 | $72,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bejou | city | 109 | $43,958 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Beaulieu | CDP | 63 | $48,750 | $763 | 1 mi |
| Roy Lake | CDP | 61 | $99,688 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Midway | CDP | 35 | $34,688 | $850 | 2 mi |
| West Roy Lake | CDP | 30 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Pine Bend | CDP | 11 | $37,917 | n/a | 12 mi |
| The Ranch | CDP | 3 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
What a median Mahnomen County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Mahnomen County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,953 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $696 uses 14%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,087 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,130 total minus rent leaves $1,434
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Mahnomen County, in numbers
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 11.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Mahnomen County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Mahnomen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Reading the Mahnomen County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mahnomen County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Mahnomen County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Mahnomen County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Minnesota rules that apply in Mahnomen County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Mahnomen 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mahnomen County?
$59,441 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 87th of 87 in the state.
Is Mahnomen County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $696 against $1,280 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Mahnomen County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Mahnomen County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Mahnomen?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Mahnomen County, such as Naytahwaush, Waubun, Riverland.
Does living in Mahnomen County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Mahnomen County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.