1st Advantage MortgageIn Winona County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $70,744 a year and the typical rent is $907. 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
- Winona County at a glance
- What Winona County households earn
- The Winona County job picture
- Housing costs in Winona County
- Towns and communities in Winona County
- Regional comparison for Winona County
- People and households in Winona County
- Reading the Winona County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Winona County's medians
- Minnesota rules that apply in Winona County
- Four steps for Winona County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Winona County at a glance
With an estimated 49,779 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Winona County ranks 19th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Land area is 626 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 79 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Winona is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 26,009 people (52% of the county total).
What Winona County households earn
Half of Winona County households take in less than $70,744 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
| Income band | Share in Winona County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.9% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -6.7 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 6 points higher than the state's 9.3%. For a borrower in Winona 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.
The Winona County job picture
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 20%. Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Winona County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.4% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 5.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.8% | -5.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Winona County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Winona County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $907 in Winona County versus $1,280 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $235,400, about 3.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes.
| Cost | Winona County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $907/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $235,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Towns and communities in Winona County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 79% of Winona County residents live in one of the 15. Incomes vary by place: $96,200 at the median in St. Charles, $56,337 in Winona. Rent is cheapest in Rollingstone ($747) and steepest in St. Charles ($1,001). Live in one of these Winona County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winona | city | 26,009 | $56,337 | $882 | 7 mi |
| Goodview | city | 4,103 | $74,712 | $900 | 7 mi |
| St. Charles | city | 4,037 | $96,200 | $1,001 | 14 mi |
| Lewiston | city | 1,613 | $91,875 | $929 | 5 mi |
| Stockton | city | 811 | $86,042 | $919 | 3 mi |
| Rollingstone | city | 620 | $93,000 | $747 | 8 mi |
| Altura | city | 388 | $61,563 | $638 | 10 mi |
| Dakota | city | 304 | $95,357 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Dresbach | CDP | 286 | $90,250 | $625 | 22 mi |
| Utica | city | 216 | $73,125 | $1,333 | 9 mi |
| Homer | CDP | 179 | $99,375 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Pickwick | CDP | 171 | $87,647 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Minnesota City | city | 135 | $72,083 | $783 | 8 mi |
| Minneiska | city | 111 | $87,083 | n/a | 16 mi |
Regional comparison for Winona County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Winona County's, from 26 to 31 miles away. Olmsted County leads the group on income ($95,406), Buffalo County trails ($70,479), and Winona County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Winona County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winona County | - | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
| Houston County, MN | 26 mi | $79,825 | $879/mo | 83% |
| Fillmore County, MN | 26 mi | $77,512 | $797/mo | 83% |
| Buffalo County, WI | 28 mi | $70,479 | $876/mo | 78% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 30 mi | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
| Wabasha County, MN | 31 mi | $82,007 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 31 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
People and households in Winona County
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Winona County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.7% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Winona County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Reading the Winona County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Winona County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Debt-to-income at Winona County's medians
How much room does a median Winona 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: $5,895 before taxes
- Less median rent of $907, which is 15% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,451 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Winona County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Minnesota rules that apply in Winona County
Consumer lenders serving Winona County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Four steps for Winona County borrowers
A short checklist for Winona County borrowers:
- Price the Winona County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Winona County?
$70,744 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $89,062 for Minnesota. It ranks 65th of 87 in the state.
What do renters pay in Winona County?
$907 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I live in a small Winona County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Winona, Goodview, St. Charles, Lewiston, Stockton and 10 more.
Will a Winona County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Winona County?
Start with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.