1st Advantage MortgageThe median Redwood County household earns $67,866, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Redwood County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Redwood County
- Income in Redwood County compared with Minnesota
- Redwood County housing compared with Minnesota
- How Redwood County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Redwood County
- What a median Redwood County budget can carry
- Redwood County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Redwood County borrowers
- Four steps for Redwood County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Redwood County by the numbers
Roughly 15,350 residents live in Redwood County, Minnesota, 54th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 879 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Redwood County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 15 Census places inside Redwood County, Redwood Falls leads by population with about 5,068; 15 of the 15 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Redwood County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 12%. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.6% 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.
| Top industries | Redwood County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.8% | +8.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Redwood County compared with Minnesota
The median household income in Redwood County is $67,866; statewide it is $89,062, so Redwood County runs 24% below Minnesota as a whole. Only 75 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Redwood County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +9.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -9.1 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. 13.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). For a borrower in Redwood County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Redwood County housing compared with Minnesota
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $757 in Redwood County versus $1,280 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Redwood County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,200, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1965.
| Measure | Redwood County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $757/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,200 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 2.9% | 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).
How Redwood County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 27 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $69,378 in Brown County to $75,303 in Lyon County; all six of these neighbors top Redwood County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood County | - | $67,866 | $757/mo | 78% |
| Renville County, MN | 27 mi | $70,625 | $790/mo | 80% |
| Cottonwood County, MN | 27 mi | $72,941 | $817/mo | 74% |
| Brown County, MN | 28 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Lyon County, MN | 29 mi | $75,303 | $781/mo | 72% |
| Murray County, MN | 37 mi | $74,033 | $810/mo | 82% |
| Yellow Medicine County, MN | 37 mi | $74,000 | $678/mo | 84% |
Towns and communities in Redwood County
15 Census places fall mainly inside Redwood County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 10,126 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,833 in Morgan to $63,750 in Wabasso. Rent is cheapest in Walnut Grove ($621) and steepest in Morgan ($1,018). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood Falls | city | 5,068 | $61,750 | $832 | 12 mi |
| Morgan | city | 925 | $55,833 | $1,018 | 16 mi |
| Lamberton | city | 917 | $58,631 | $761 | 12 mi |
| Walnut Grove | city | 808 | $58,125 | $621 | 16 mi |
| Wabasso | city | 603 | $63,750 | $637 | 0 mi |
| Belview | city | 362 | $74,583 | $838 | 14 mi |
| Vesta | city | 311 | $66,875 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Sanborn | city | 299 | $48,750 | $99 | 15 mi |
| Lucan | city | 220 | $40,000 | $663 | 8 mi |
| Milroy | city | 203 | $59,583 | $567 | 15 mi |
| Clements | city | 109 | $54,375 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Wanda | city | 104 | $82,083 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Seaforth | city | 100 | $80,000 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Revere | city | 64 | $61,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
What a median Redwood County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Redwood County's medians:
- $67,866 a year is $5,656 of gross monthly income
- 13% goes to median rent ($757)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,979 total minus rent leaves $1,222
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,788 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Redwood County residents: age, schooling, coverage
22% of Redwood County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Redwood County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Redwood County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
What the numbers mean for Redwood County borrowers
What the Redwood County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Redwood County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Redwood County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Four steps for Redwood County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Minnesota borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Redwood 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. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Redwood County earn?
The median is $67,866; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Redwood County?
$757 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I live in a small Redwood County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Redwood Falls, Morgan, Lamberton, Walnut Grove, Wabasso and 10 more.
Is the fit check different in Redwood County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Redwood County check a lender's license?
With the Minnesota Department of Commerce. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.