1st Advantage Mortgage38% of Sibley County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $77,634 (ACS 2020-24). 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
- Sibley County at a glance
- Where Sibley County differs from the rest of Minnesota
- Where Sibley County households live
- The $77,634 median and what sits around it
- Jobs and commutes in Sibley County
- Places inside Sibley County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- More Sibley County figures
- Before borrowing in Sibley County
- $6,470 a month: the Sibley County median budget
- Four steps for Sibley County borrowers
- Verifying a lender from Sibley County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Sibley County at a glance
With an estimated 15,005 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sibley County ranks 56th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Spread over 589 square miles, that works out to roughly 25.5 residents per square mile. Metro status: none; Sibley County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Gaylord (2,073 people) heads the county's list of 7 Census places, 7 incorporated and 0 census-designated.
Where Sibley County differs from the rest of Minnesota
Where Sibley County lands at the extremes of Minnesota's county rankings:
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 20% in Sibley County. Only 7 of 87 Minnesota counties are higher. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Few Minnesota counties match Sibley County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 19% here, 39% for the state, ranking 15th lowest of 87. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
Where Sibley County households live
Sibley County rent at the median: $855 a month, utilities in ($1,280 in Minnesota). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 42% in Sibley County, 48% statewide. With a median value of $231,900, a typical Sibley County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. Half the housing stock was built before 1964. Against the median U.S. county, Sibley County rent is 3% below.
| Cost | Sibley County | Minnesota figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $855/mo | $1,280/mo | 33% lower |
| Median home value | $231,900 | $329,300 | 30% lower |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | +8.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | -6.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | +0.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 2.9% | -0.3 pts |
At a $231,900 median value, many Sibley County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
The $77,634 median and what sits around it
Sibley County households have a median income of $77,634 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 25th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Households earning | Sibley County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.3% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -5.5 pts |
On the low end, 18% of Sibley County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. Sibley County counts about 1,352 residents below the poverty line, 9.0% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Sibley County median.
Jobs and commutes in Sibley County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Sibley County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. Relative to Minnesota (2%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 6 points bigger in Sibley County (8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Sibley County. 30% of Sibley County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 20% need 45 or more. 243 Sibley County households, 4.1%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Sibley County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.3% | +6.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.5% | +6.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -4.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Sibley County
8,214 of Sibley County's 15,005 residents live in its 7 Census places (55%); the 7 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,278 in Gibbon to $76,458 in Henderson. Median rent ranges from $549 in Arlington to $950 in Gibbon. No Sibley County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaylord | city | 2,073 | $57,243 | $860 | 2 mi |
| Arlington | city | 2,065 | $68,073 | $549 | 8 mi |
| Winthrop | city | 1,381 | $69,219 | $776 | 7 mi |
| Gibbon | city | 918 | $55,278 | $950 | 15 mi |
| Henderson | city | 875 | $76,458 | $923 | 16 mi |
| Green Isle | city | 466 | $88,333 | $1,725 | 13 mi |
| New Auburn | city | 436 | $73,750 | $738 | 7 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Nicollet County at 15 miles out to Scott County at 35. Richest neighbor: Carver County, $125,946. Poorest: Brown County, $69,378. Sibley County: $77,634.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibley County | - | $77,634 | $855/mo | 81% |
| Nicollet County, MN | 15 mi | $79,756 | $970/mo | 72% |
| McLeod County, MN | 17 mi | $80,084 | $941/mo | 77% |
| Carver County, MN | 27 mi | $125,946 | $1,514/mo | 81% |
| Le Sueur County, MN | 28 mi | $94,968 | $942/mo | 81% |
| Brown County, MN | 34 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Scott County, MN | 35 mi | $119,314 | $1,568/mo | 84% |
More Sibley County figures
In Sibley County, 19% of adults have at least a four-year degree (39% in Minnesota). Health coverage gaps: 4.3% of Sibley County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Sibley County | Compared with Minnesota | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | -20.0 pts | -2.7 pts |
| Work from home | 10.9% | -6.7 pts | +2.3 pts |
| Median age | 42.4 | +3.6 yrs | +0.9 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | -2.6 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | -0.4 pts | -3.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | -0.3 pts | -4.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | -0.3 pts | -0.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Before borrowing in Sibley County
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Sibley County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidating cards in Sibley County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
$6,470 a month: the Sibley County median budget
How much room does a median Sibley County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,470 before taxes
- Less median rent of $855, which is 13% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,733 left for all other debt payments
Homeowners in Sibley County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Four steps for Sibley County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sibley County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sibley County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Verifying a lender from Sibley County
Sibley County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Nationally, Sibley County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Sibley County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Sibley County household make?
About $77,634 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Minnesota median.
How does Sibley County rent compare with Minnesota?
$855 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 33% below.
Should Sibley County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Sibley County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Is New Auburn covered?
Yes. New Auburn is one of 7 Census places in Sibley County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a Sibley County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.