1st Advantage MortgageIn St. Louis County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $70,069 a year and the typical rent is $1,013. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of St. Louis County
- Jobs and commutes in St. Louis County
- Paychecks and income spread in St. Louis County
- Renting and owning in St. Louis County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up St. Louis County
- Room for a loan payment in St. Louis County
- People and households in St. Louis County
- What the numbers mean for St. Louis County borrowers
- Minnesota rules that apply in St. Louis County
- Four steps for St. Louis County borrowers
- More guides for St. Louis County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of St. Louis County
St. Louis County is home to about 200,123 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 6th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. It covers 6,248 square miles of land, or about 32 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Duluth, MN-WI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Duluth is the biggest of its 29 Census places, at roughly 87,093 people (44% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in St. Louis County
The biggest employer of St. Louis County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 26% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for St. Louis County averages 4.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Top industries | St. Louis County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.5% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | -6.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | +0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in St. Louis County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in St. Louis County
The median household income in St. Louis County is $70,069; statewide it is $89,062, so St. Louis County runs 21% below Minnesota as a whole. Only 67 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | St. Louis County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -6.7 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 13.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in St. Louis County
Renters in St. Louis County pay a median of $1,013 a month, 21% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $221,400, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Home costs | St. Louis County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,013/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $221,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Itasca County is closest, 52 miles from center to center; the sixth, Douglas County, is 82 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Louis County; Carlton County is highest at $80,573 and Aitkin County lowest at $60,833. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | - | $70,069 | $1,013/mo | 71% |
| Itasca County, MN | 52 mi | $68,603 | $988/mo | 83% |
| Lake County, MN | 52 mi | $75,541 | $1,093/mo | 83% |
| Carlton County, MN | 68 mi | $80,573 | $1,009/mo | 80% |
| Koochiching County, MN | 75 mi | $66,940 | $671/mo | 80% |
| Aitkin County, MN | 80 mi | $60,833 | $869/mo | 85% |
| Douglas County, WI | 82 mi | $75,099 | $909/mo | 72% |
The communities that make up St. Louis County
The table lists the 14 largest of 29 Census places in St. Louis County, by population. Together all 29 hold about 155,143 people, so roughly 22% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $90,849 at the median in Hermantown, $42,083 in Aurora. Rent is cheapest in Aurora ($509) and steepest in Hoyt Lakes ($1,550). No St. Louis County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 29.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | city | 87,093 | $68,807 | $1,087 | 58 mi |
| Hibbing | city | 16,057 | $55,789 | $833 | 24 mi |
| Hermantown | city | 10,218 | $90,849 | $1,463 | 55 mi |
| Virginia | city | 8,332 | $51,720 | $792 | 4 mi |
| Chisholm | city | 4,712 | $50,891 | $732 | 18 mi |
| Rice Lake | city | 4,153 | $89,663 | $1,305 | 50 mi |
| Eveleth | city | 3,448 | $50,725 | $904 | 7 mi |
| Ely | city | 3,240 | $43,901 | $627 | 38 mi |
| Proctor | city | 3,100 | $67,377 | $1,044 | 59 mi |
| Mountain Iron | city | 2,860 | $83,293 | $918 | 6 mi |
| Hoyt Lakes | city | 2,064 | $65,764 | $1,550 | 19 mi |
| Aurora | city | 1,792 | $42,083 | $509 | 13 mi |
| Gilbert | city | 1,697 | $64,625 | $698 | 7 mi |
| Babbitt | city | 1,393 | $55,875 | $737 | 28 mi |
Room for a loan payment in St. Louis County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to St. Louis County's medians:
- $5,839 a month: gross income for a household at the St. Louis County median
- Less median rent of $1,013, which is 17% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,089 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in St. Louis County
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | St. Louis County | Minnesota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | St. Louis County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
What the numbers mean for St. Louis County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for St. Louis County borrowers.
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a St. Louis County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Minnesota rules that apply in St. Louis County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For St. Louis County, check 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.
Four steps for St. Louis County borrowers
A short checklist for St. Louis County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for St. Louis County
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Louis County earn?
The median is $70,069; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is St. Louis County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,013 against $1,280 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should St. Louis County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of St. Louis 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 St. Louis County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 29 Census places: Duluth, Hibbing, Hermantown, Virginia, Chisholm.
Are St. Louis County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.