1st Advantage MortgageMower County households have a median income of $73,074 and median rent of $927 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Mower County by the numbers
- Income in Mower County compared with Minnesota
- The Mower County job picture
- What it costs to live in Mower County
- How Mower County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Mower County
- Debt-to-income at Mower County's medians
- Reading the Mower County data as a borrower
- More Mower County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Checklist for Mower County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mower County by the numbers
Mower County is home to about 40,343 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. It covers 711 square miles of land, or about 57 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mower County is not part of any metropolitan area. Austin is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 26,358 people (65% of the county total).
Income in Mower County compared with Minnesota
The median household income in Mower County is $73,074; statewide it is $89,062, so Mower County runs 18% below Minnesota as a whole.
| Band | Mower County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.0% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +8.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -7.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Mower County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.4%, 1 point higher than the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.420 (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.
The Mower County job picture
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 24%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 24% locally and 13% for Minnesota. The survey's unemployment rate for Mower County averages 3.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). About 76% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Mower County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 24.4% | +11.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.6% | -5.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.1% | -2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Mower County
A typical Mower County rental runs $927 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Minnesota. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $185,200, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1958, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Mower County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $927/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,200 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Mower 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 Mower County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 32 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Mower County; Dodge County is highest at $95,739 and Howard County lowest at $67,446. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mower County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mower County | - | $73,074 | $927/mo | 78% |
| Mitchell County, IA | 22 mi | $71,365 | $738/mo | 80% |
| Dodge County, MN | 25 mi | $95,739 | $1,020/mo | 87% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 29 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
| Freeborn County, MN | 30 mi | $71,023 | $849/mo | 80% |
| Howard County, IA | 30 mi | $67,446 | $713/mo | 77% |
| Worth County, IA | 32 mi | $78,008 | $758/mo | 83% |
The communities that make up Mower County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 80% of Mower County residents live in one of the 15. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $54,485 in Le Roy to $93,594 in Adams. Rent is cheapest in Lyle ($575) and steepest in Austin ($953). This guide covers each of the 15 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | city | 26,358 | $68,057 | $953 | 11 mi |
| Grand Meadow | city | 1,011 | $72,125 | $644 | 10 mi |
| Brownsdale | city | 850 | $77,614 | $739 | 7 mi |
| Le Roy | city | 803 | $54,485 | $697 | 16 mi |
| Adams | city | 745 | $93,594 | $823 | 7 mi |
| Lyle | city | 504 | $58,269 | $575 | 14 mi |
| Rose Creek | city | 429 | $81,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Racine | city | 416 | $97,788 | $1,271 | 16 mi |
| Dexter | city | 350 | $93,750 | $859 | 5 mi |
| Waltham | city | 182 | $69,167 | $1,188 | 12 mi |
| Lansing | CDP | 152 | $44,063 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mapleview | city | 110 | $33,750 | $583 | 11 mi |
| Elkton | city | 94 | $53,523 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Taopi | city | 51 | $73,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Mower County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Mower County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,090 a month: gross income for a household at the Mower County median
- Rent at the median, $927, takes 15% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,265 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $927, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Mower County data as a borrower
Where the Mower County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Mower County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
More Mower County figures
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Mower County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Mower County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Mower County applicants
Quick steps for Mower County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mower County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mower County?
$73,074 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 48th of 87 in the state.
What do renters pay in Mower County?
$927 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Mower County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Mower 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 Mower County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Austin, Grand Meadow, Brownsdale, Le Roy, Adams.
Are Mower County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.