1st Advantage MortgageIn Swift County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $60,412 a year and the typical rent is $920. 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 Swift County
- Paychecks and income spread in Swift County
- Employment and commuting in Swift County
- Housing costs in Swift County
- The counties around Swift County
- Places inside Swift County
- Debt-to-income at Swift County's medians
- Before borrowing in Swift County
- Swift County households compared
- Four steps for Swift County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Swift County
- More guides for Swift County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Swift County
With an estimated 9,748 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Swift County ranks 68th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Land area is 742 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Swift County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Benson is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,441 people (35% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Swift County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Swift County
Half of Swift County households take in less than $60,412 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. That places it 85th among Minnesota's 87 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Swift County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -7.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Swift County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.0% of Swift County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. For a borrower in Swift 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.
Employment and commuting in Swift County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Swift County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Households without a car make up 7.1% of the total (6.7% statewide).
| Where residents work | Swift County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.4% | +11.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | 0.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Swift County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $920 in Swift County versus $1,280 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. With a median value of $161,400, a typical Swift County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 72%. Median construction year: 1958.
| Housing | Swift County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $920/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 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). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The counties around Swift County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Swift County; Kandiyohi County is highest at $76,592 and Big Stone County lowest at $70,400.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift County | - | $60,412 | $920/mo | 72% |
| Chippewa County, MN | 18 mi | $71,458 | $869/mo | 72% |
| Pope County, MN | 25 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
| Stevens County, MN | 26 mi | $75,733 | $951/mo | 63% |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 30 mi | $74,432 | $728/mo | 83% |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 34 mi | $76,592 | $909/mo | 73% |
| Big Stone County, MN | 36 mi | $70,400 | $745/mo | 80% |
Places inside Swift County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Swift County residents live in one of the 8. Kerkhoven has the highest median household income on the list ($72,813) and Appleton the lowest ($43,958), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $717 in Appleton to $982 in Benson. Live in one of these Swift County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson | city | 3,441 | $52,821 | $982 | 5 mi |
| Appleton | city | 1,393 | $43,958 | $717 | 17 mi |
| Kerkhoven | city | 802 | $72,813 | $745 | 19 mi |
| Murdock | city | 331 | $73,333 | $798 | 15 mi |
| Danvers | city | 126 | $122,727 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Holloway | city | 74 | $63,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| De Graff | city | 58 | $67,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Clontarf | city | 45 | $86,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
Debt-to-income at Swift County's medians
How much room does a median Swift County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $60,412 a year is $5,034 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $920, takes 18% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $842 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,345 a month
If your rent is above $920, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Swift County
A few patterns in the Swift County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Swift County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Swift County households compared
24% of Swift County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.1%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| People and households | Swift County | Minnesota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.2% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Swift County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Four steps for Swift County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Swift County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Swift County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
More guides for Swift County
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Swift County earn?
The median is $60,412; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Swift County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $920 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Swift County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Swift County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Benson?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Swift County, such as Appleton, Kerkhoven, Murdock.
Will a Swift County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.