1st Advantage MortgageRock County (9,621 residents) has a $71,295 median household income and $698 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. For a Rock County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Minnesota license.
On this page
- Rock County at a glance
- Housing costs in Rock County
- How Rock County residents earn a living
- The $71,295 median and what sits around it
- How Rock County ranks in Minnesota
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Rock County
- Rock County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Rock County
- $5,941 a month: the Rock County median budget
- Before you sign
- Minnesota lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Rock County at a glance
Rock County is home to about 9,621 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 70th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Density: about 19.9 residents per square mile across 482 square miles of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Largest place: Luverne, about 4,925 residents (51% of Rock County); 7 Census places in all. With so few households sampled, Rock County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Rock County
A typical Rock County rental runs $698 a month including utilities, which is 45% below Minnesota. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $224,300, or 3.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Against the median U.S. county, Rock County rent is 20% below.
| Rock County | Minnesota | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | -4.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $698/mo | $1,280/mo | 45% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | +4.3 pts |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | -4.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | -4.1 pts |
| Median home value | $224,300 | $329,300 | 32% lower |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% | 2.9% | -0.6 pts |
With 77% of Rock County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
How Rock County residents earn a living
Education and health care (28%), agriculture, forestry and mining (10%) and retail trade (9%) lead Rock County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Minnesota. Unemployment in Rock County, ACS five-year: 2.6%; Minnesota: 4.1%. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. No car: 5.8% of Rock County households.
| Industry | Share of Rock County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -5.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +0.5 pts |
Self-employed in Rock County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
The $71,295 median and what sits around it
Half of Rock County households take in less than $71,295 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. In the state ranking that is 62nd of 87.
| Band | Rock County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +6.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -6.6 pts |
24% under $35,000 and 37% at $100,000 or more: that is the Rock County income split. The poverty rate is 10.6%, 1 point higher than the state's 9.3%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Rock County ranks in Minnesota
The 4 Rock County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Minnesota, and what each means for a borrower:
- Median gross rent: $698/mo in Rock County. Only 8 of 87 Minnesota counties are lower. Cheaper housing gives many renters more slack in a budget.
- The housing vacancy rate: 5% in Rock County. Only 11 of 87 Minnesota counties are lower. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
- Few Minnesota counties match Rock County on the ACS unemployment rate: 2.6% here, 4.1% for the state, ranking 16th lowest of 87. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Population: 9,621 in Rock County. Only 17 of 87 Minnesota counties are lower. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Distances run center to center, from Lyon County at 20 miles out to Murray County at 35. Income ranges from $66,101 in Nobles County to $78,427 in Moody County; 4 of these neighbors top Rock County's median. The list crosses into Iowa, South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | - | $71,295 | $698/mo | 77% |
| Lyon County, IA | 20 mi | $76,746 | $843/mo | 81% |
| Pipestone County, MN | 24 mi | $69,628 | $754/mo | 81% |
| Nobles County, MN | 25 mi | $66,101 | $896/mo | 74% |
| Minnehaha County, SD | 27 mi | $76,880 | $978/mo | 63% |
| Moody County, SD | 31 mi | $78,427 | $758/mo | 73% |
| Murray County, MN | 35 mi | $74,033 | $810/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Rock County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 69% of Rock County residents live in one of the 7. No Rock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luverne | city | 4,925 | $64,366 | $639 | 3 mi |
| Hills | city | 748 | $78,631 | $965 | 11 mi |
| Beaver Creek | city | 293 | $64,583 | $910 | 6 mi |
| Hardwick | city | 235 | $39,327 | $663 | 8 mi |
| Magnolia | city | 215 | $53,594 | $715 | 10 mi |
| Steen | city | 125 | $60,000 | $788 | 11 mi |
| Kenneth | city | 72 | $76,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
Rock County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.7%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Rock County | vs Minnesota | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.3% | -13.1 pts | +4.1 pts |
| Work from home | 11.9% | -5.7 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Median age | 41.2 | +2.4 yrs | -0.3 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | -1.5 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | +1.3 pts | -2.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | -0.8 pts | +0.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | +0.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 0.0 pts | -3.2 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Rock County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Rock County
Rock County-specific points to check:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
$5,941 a month: the Rock County median budget
DTI math using Rock County medians ($71,295 income, $698 rent):
- $71,295 a year is $5,941 of gross monthly income
- 12% goes to median rent ($698)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,441 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,857: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Rock County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Rock County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Minnesota lender licensing
Rock County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Nationally, Rock County residents can file with the CFPB. State-level detail for Rock County borrowers is in the Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rock County earn?
The median is $71,295; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Rock County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $698 median rent and $5,941 median monthly income, rent alone uses 12%; add other debts before a new payment.
I own my home in Rock County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Rock County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Luverne, Hills, Beaver Creek, Hardwick, Magnolia.
Can Rock County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.