1st Advantage MortgageIn Marshall County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $72,543 a year and the typical rent is $690. 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
- Who lives in Marshall County
- Income in Marshall County compared with Minnesota
- Rent, home values and ownership in Marshall County
- Jobs and commutes in Marshall County
- Marshall County towns compared
- Counties near Marshall County
- People and households in Marshall County
- Local borrowing considerations for Marshall County
- Room for a loan payment in Marshall County
- Lender oversight for Marshall County
- Four steps for Marshall County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Marshall County
With an estimated 8,909 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Marshall County ranks 73rd of 87 in Minnesota for population. Land area is 1,775 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 5 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Marshall County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 11 Census places inside Marshall County, Warren leads by population with about 1,680; 11 of the 11 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Marshall County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Marshall County compared with Minnesota
Half of Marshall County households take in less than $72,543 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
| Households earning | Marshall County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +8.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -10.0 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 8.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.388 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Marshall County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $690 in Marshall County versus $1,280 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $164,500, a typical Marshall County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 83%.
| Measure | Marshall County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $690/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,500 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Marshall 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.
Jobs and commutes in Marshall County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Marshall County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (14% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Where residents work | Marshall County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.1% | +12.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 8.5% | +6.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Marshall County towns compared
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Marshall County residents live in one of the 11. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | city | 1,680 | $59,875 | $717 | 22 mi |
| Stephen | city | 526 | $71,250 | $1,063 | 25 mi |
| Argyle | city | 486 | $105,625 | $431 | 21 mi |
| Newfolden | city | 332 | $64,583 | $817 | 1 mi |
| Middle River | city | 319 | $76,250 | $408 | 10 mi |
| Alvarado | city | 317 | $66,964 | $1,075 | 32 mi |
| Grygla | city | 266 | $69,167 | $713 | 34 mi |
| Oslo | city | 260 | $63,750 | $950 | 37 mi |
| Viking | city | 125 | $76,607 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Holt | city | 95 | $47,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Strandquist | city | 91 | $56,458 | n/a | 10 mi |
Counties near Marshall County
Pennington County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Grand Forks County, is 59 miles off. Income ranges from $68,075 in Grand Forks County to $77,325 in Pennington County; 5 of these neighbors top Marshall County's median. The list crosses into North Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | - | $72,543 | $690/mo | 83% |
| Pennington County, MN | 25 mi | $77,325 | $862/mo | 72% |
| Kittson County, MN | 34 mi | $76,100 | $757/mo | 83% |
| Red Lake County, MN | 37 mi | $77,188 | $583/mo | 83% |
| Roseau County, MN | 37 mi | $74,474 | $880/mo | 79% |
| Polk County, MN | 41 mi | $73,107 | $855/mo | 71% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 59 mi | $68,075 | $992/mo | 52% |
People and households in Marshall County
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 4.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Marshall County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marshall County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Marshall County borrowers.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Room for a loan payment in Marshall County
Marshall County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Marshall County: $6,045
- 11% goes to median rent ($690)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,426 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $2,030 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Marshall County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Marshall County
Marshall County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Marshall County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Marshall County earn?
The median is $72,543; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Marshall County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $690 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Marshall County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Marshall County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Warren, Stephen, Argyle, Newfolden, Middle River.
Does living in Marshall 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 Marshall County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.