1st Advantage MortgageIn Nicollet County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $79,756 a year and the typical rent is $970. 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
- Nicollet County at a glance
- What Nicollet County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Nicollet County
- Jobs and commutes in Nicollet County
- Nicollet County towns compared
- How Nicollet County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Nicollet County median
- Borrowing situations common in Nicollet County
- Nicollet County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Nicollet County
- Lender oversight for Nicollet County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Nicollet County at a glance
Nicollet County is home to about 34,411 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Land area is 449 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 77 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Mankato, MN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is St. Peter, with about 12,185 residents, or 35% of the county.
What Nicollet County households earn
At $79,756, the typical Nicollet County household income is 21% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 23rd among Minnesota's 87 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Nicollet County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.5% | -0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.7% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -3.1 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 9.3%. A household earning below the $79,756 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Nicollet County
A typical Nicollet County rental runs $970 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $270,300, a typical Nicollet County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes.
| Home costs | Nicollet County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $970/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $270,300 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | 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).
Jobs and commutes in Nicollet County
The biggest employer of Nicollet County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 26% for Minnesota. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (6.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Nicollet County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.7% | -1.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Nicollet County towns compared
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Nicollet County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 14,396 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $99,028 at the median in Courtland, $65,122 in St. Peter. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter | city | 12,185 | $65,122 | $961 | 14 mi |
| Nicollet | city | 957 | $84,643 | $855 | 6 mi |
| Courtland | city | 770 | $99,028 | $1,066 | 7 mi |
| Lafayette | city | 484 | $88,750 | $980 | 9 mi |
How Nicollet County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 15 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Nicollet County; Le Sueur County is highest at $94,968 and Brown County lowest at $69,378.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicollet County | - | $79,756 | $970/mo | 72% |
| Sibley County, MN | 15 mi | $77,634 | $855/mo | 81% |
| Blue Earth County, MN | 24 mi | $74,477 | $1,123/mo | 61% |
| Brown County, MN | 25 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Le Sueur County, MN | 25 mi | $94,968 | $942/mo | 81% |
| McLeod County, MN | 32 mi | $80,084 | $941/mo | 77% |
| Watonwan County, MN | 32 mi | $71,699 | $834/mo | 78% |
Budget math at the Nicollet County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Nicollet County's medians:
- $79,756 a year is $6,646 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $970, takes 15% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,356 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,991 total minus rent leaves $2,021
If your rent is above $970, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Nicollet County
What the Nicollet County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Nicollet County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 36% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.4%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Measure | Nicollet County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Steps before you apply in Nicollet County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Nicollet County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Nicollet County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Nicollet County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Nicollet County household make?
About $79,756 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Minnesota median.
What do renters pay in Nicollet County?
$970 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in Nicollet County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Nicollet County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: St. Peter, Nicollet, Courtland, Lafayette.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Nicollet County or elsewhere in Minnesota, the same rules apply.