1st Advantage MortgageThe median Todd County household earns $67,662, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- Todd County, MN: the basics
- Housing costs in Todd County
- What Todd County households earn
- The Todd County job picture
- Todd County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Todd County
- Room for a loan payment in Todd County
- People and households in Todd County
- Before borrowing in Todd County
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- A Todd County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Todd County, MN: the basics
Roughly 25,575 residents live in Todd County, Minnesota, 41st by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 945 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 27 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Todd County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Long Prairie is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 3,693 people (14% of the county total).
Housing costs in Todd County
Renters in Todd County pay a median of $908 a month, 29% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $207,700, about 3.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 83% of homes. Median construction year: 1975.
| Cost | Todd County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $908/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $207,700 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Todd County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Todd County households earn
At $67,662, the typical Todd County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Todd County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.9% | +12.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -8.4 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.5%, 2 points higher than the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Todd County median.
The Todd County job picture
The biggest employer of Todd County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (22%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Todd County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Todd County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | -2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.6% | +8.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +7.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.5% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Todd County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Todd County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Douglas County at 28 miles out to Otter Tail County at 45. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Todd County; Douglas County is highest at $79,043 and Wadena County lowest at $61,467.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd County | - | $67,662 | $908/mo | 83% |
| Douglas County, MN | 28 mi | $79,043 | $927/mo | 76% |
| Morrison County, MN | 31 mi | $69,446 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Wadena County, MN | 36 mi | $61,467 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Stearns County, MN | 38 mi | $77,066 | $1,068/mo | 68% |
| Pope County, MN | 42 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 45 mi | $72,255 | $868/mo | 79% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Todd County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Todd County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 7,303 residents, leaving about 71% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $58,786 at the median in Long Prairie, $47,188 in Clarissa. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Prairie | city | 3,693 | $58,786 | $1,033 | 7 mi |
| Browerville | city | 902 | $48,214 | $876 | 2 mi |
| Clarissa | city | 622 | $47,188 | $775 | 5 mi |
| Eagle Bend | city | 597 | $49,559 | $692 | 9 mi |
| Bertha | city | 474 | $57,708 | $913 | 16 mi |
| Grey Eagle | city | 295 | $51,250 | $375 | 18 mi |
| Hewitt | city | 283 | $63,750 | $958 | 20 mi |
| Swanville | city | 274 | $61,250 | $1,000 | 16 mi |
| Burtrum | city | 94 | $54,583 | $794 | 17 mi |
| West Union | city | 69 | $58,750 | $1,375 | 20 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Todd County
How much room does a median Todd County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,638 gross per month ($67,662 / 12)
- Median rent: $908, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,347 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Todd County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Todd County
16% of Todd County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Todd County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Before borrowing in Todd County
What the Todd County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 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.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Consumer lenders serving Todd County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
A Todd County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Todd County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Minnesota.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Todd County household make?
About $67,662 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Minnesota median.
Is Todd County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $908 against $1,280 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Todd County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Todd County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Long Prairie, Browerville, Clarissa, Eagle Bend, Bertha and 5 more.
Are Todd 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.