1st Advantage MortgagePine County households have a median income of $71,146 and median rent of $877 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Pine County
- Work, industries and travel time in Pine County
- How much Pine County households make
- Housing costs in Pine County
- Regional comparison for Pine County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pine County
- Pine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Pine County
- Debt-to-income at Pine County's medians
- Lender oversight for Pine County
- Checklist for Pine County applicants
- More guides for Pine County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pine County
Roughly 29,640 residents live in Pine County, Minnesota, 37th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,411 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pine County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (14 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Pine City, with about 3,468 residents, or 12% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Pine County
The biggest employer of Pine County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Construction stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Pine County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pine County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +5.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +4.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pine County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Pine County households make
Pine County households have a median income of $71,146 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 63rd of 87 in Minnesota.
| Households earning | Pine County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.9% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -8.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Pine County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.1%, 2 points higher than the state's 9.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.418 here. A household earning below the $71,146 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Pine County
Renters in Pine County pay a median of $877 a month, 31% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $239,300, about 3.4 times the median household income. 82% of Pine County households own their home and 18% rent.
| Cost | Pine County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $877/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,300 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pine 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.
Regional comparison for Pine County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 45 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Pine County; Chisago County is highest at $99,400 and Burnett County lowest at $62,819. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pine County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine County | - | $71,146 | $877/mo | 82% |
| Burnett County, WI | 25 mi | $62,819 | $771/mo | 86% |
| Kanabec County, MN | 28 mi | $71,460 | $962/mo | 85% |
| Carlton County, MN | 35 mi | $80,573 | $1,009/mo | 80% |
| Chisago County, MN | 42 mi | $99,400 | $1,186/mo | 86% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 43 mi | $72,729 | $903/mo | 78% |
| Isanti County, MN | 45 mi | $87,440 | $1,273/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Pine County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Pine County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 11,369 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $94,856 at the median in Rock Creek, $50,714 in Hinckley. No Pine County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine City | city | 3,468 | $52,056 | $680 | 20 mi |
| Sandstone | city | 2,482 | $51,875 | $1,015 | 5 mi |
| Rock Creek | city | 1,748 | $94,856 | $872 | 24 mi |
| Hinckley | city | 1,596 | $50,714 | $956 | 9 mi |
| Sturgeon Lake | city | 568 | $79,722 | $1,094 | 20 mi |
| Willow River | city | 342 | $58,125 | $743 | 16 mi |
| Askov | city | 304 | $31,250 | $346 | 6 mi |
| Rutledge | city | 275 | $65,000 | $825 | 12 mi |
| Finlayson | city | 267 | $68,500 | $950 | 11 mi |
| Brook Park | city | 143 | n/a | $1,083 | 18 mi |
| Kerrick | city | 64 | $65,000 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Bruno | city | 42 | $44,583 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Henriette | city | 37 | $27,188 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Denham | city | 33 | $53,750 | n/a | 20 mi |
Pine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Pine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Pine County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.4% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pine County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 20.1% |
Before borrowing in Pine County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pine County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Pine County budgets.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Pine County's median age is 45.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income at Pine County's medians
How much room does a median Pine County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $71,146 a year is $5,929 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $877, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,257 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,672 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Pine County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pine County, check the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Checklist for Pine County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Pine County
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pine County a high-income county?
Its $71,146 median ranks 63rd of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Pine County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $877 against $1,280 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Pine County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Pine City?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Pine County, such as Sandstone, Rock Creek, Hinckley.
Does living in Pine 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 Pine County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.