1st Advantage MortgageThe median Renville County household earns $70,625, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Renville County, MN: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Renville County
- Paychecks and income spread in Renville County
- Work, industries and travel time in Renville County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Renville County
- Regional comparison for Renville County
- Budget math at the Renville County median
- Borrowing situations common in Renville County
- Renville County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- A Renville County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Renville County, MN: the basics
With an estimated 14,558 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Renville County ranks 57th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Spread over 983 square miles, that works out to roughly 14.8 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Renville County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Renville County, Olivia leads by population with about 2,205; 10 of the 10 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Renville County
Renters in Renville County pay a median of $790 a month, 38% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $163,200, a typical Renville County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Cost | Renville County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $163,200 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Renville 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Renville County
At $70,625, the typical Renville County household income is 8% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 66th among Minnesota's 87 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Renville County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -8.0 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.420 here. None of these numbers decides a Renville County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Renville County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Renville County. About 79% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Renville County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | -1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.7% | +10.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.9% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Renville County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Renville County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $75,833 at the median in Bird Island, $51,500 in Franklin. Median rent ranges from $432 in Fairfax to $1,125 in Hector. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olivia | city | 2,205 | $63,098 | $780 | 4 mi |
| Renville | city | 1,503 | $69,306 | $676 | 13 mi |
| Hector | city | 1,130 | $63,362 | $1,125 | 12 mi |
| Fairfax | city | 1,088 | $60,172 | $432 | 18 mi |
| Bird Island | city | 930 | $75,833 | $617 | 4 mi |
| Buffalo Lake | city | 635 | $66,167 | $759 | 17 mi |
| Franklin | city | 526 | $51,500 | $838 | 14 mi |
| Sacred Heart | city | 481 | $70,667 | $692 | 20 mi |
| Danube | city | 472 | $61,944 | $912 | 9 mi |
| Morton | city | 384 | $53,036 | $825 | 12 mi |
Regional comparison for Renville County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 36 miles). McLeod County leads the group on income ($80,084), Redwood County trails ($67,866), and Renville County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renville County | - | $70,625 | $790/mo | 80% |
| Redwood County, MN | 27 mi | $67,866 | $757/mo | 78% |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 30 mi | $76,592 | $909/mo | 73% |
| McLeod County, MN | 34 mi | $80,084 | $941/mo | 77% |
| Meeker County, MN | 35 mi | $75,446 | $904/mo | 79% |
| Brown County, MN | 35 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Chippewa County, MN | 36 mi | $71,458 | $869/mo | 72% |
Budget math at the Renville County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Renville County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,885 gross per month ($70,625 / 12)
- Less median rent of $790, which is 13% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,741 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.
Borrowing situations common in Renville County
Based on the Renville County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Renville County households compared
18% of Renville County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Renville County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Renville County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Before sharing details with a lender, a Renville County resident can confirm its license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
A Renville County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Renville County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Renville County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Minnesota borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Renville County?
$70,625 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 66th of 87 in the state.
How does Renville County rent compare with Minnesota?
$790 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 38% below.
Should Renville County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Renville 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 Renville County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Olivia, Renville, Hector, Fairfax, Bird Island.
Is the fit check different in Renville County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.