1st Advantage MortgageIn Wright County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $107,209 a year and the typical rent is $1,288. 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
- Getting oriented in Wright County
- Income in Wright County compared with Minnesota
- Employment and commuting in Wright County
- Renting and owning in Wright County
- The communities that make up Wright County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Wright County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Wright County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Wright County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wright County
Wright County is home to about 148,269 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 10th most populous of 87 county-level areas in Minnesota. Land area is 661 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 224 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area. Otsego is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 22,245 people (15% of the county total).
Income in Wright County compared with Minnesota
Half of Wright County households take in less than $107,209 a year and half take in more, 20% above the Minnesota median of $89,062. That places it 4th among Minnesota's 87 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Wright County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.5% | -5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 38.5% | +7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.8% | +0.9 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 53% have six-figure incomes. 5.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). For a borrower in Wright 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 Wright County
The biggest employer of Wright County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward construction (11% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Wright County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.0% of the total (6.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Wright County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Wright County
A typical Wright County rental runs $1,288 a month including utilities. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $358,900, about 3.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 84%. Half the housing stock was built before 1995.
| Housing | Wright County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,288/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $358,900 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wright County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Wright County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Wright County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 111,937 people, so roughly 25% of residents live outside any named place. Albertville has the highest median household income on the list ($132,734) and Annandale the lowest ($65,583), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 16 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego | city | 22,245 | $119,927 | $1,765 | 18 mi |
| St. Michael | city | 20,010 | $131,274 | $1,483 | 14 mi |
| Buffalo | city | 16,499 | $88,820 | $1,182 | 5 mi |
| Monticello | city | 14,858 | $79,534 | $1,405 | 12 mi |
| Albertville | city | 8,207 | $132,734 | $1,348 | 15 mi |
| Delano | city | 6,942 | $109,946 | $964 | 13 mi |
| Rockford | city | 4,597 | $94,162 | $1,046 | 12 mi |
| Montrose | city | 3,888 | $102,625 | $1,474 | 8 mi |
| Annandale | city | 3,399 | $65,583 | $971 | 10 mi |
| Cokato | city | 2,782 | $70,288 | $797 | 13 mi |
| Waverly | city | 2,285 | $112,222 | $941 | 8 mi |
| Maple Lake | city | 2,042 | $93,750 | $591 | 4 mi |
| Clearwater | city | 1,970 | $91,346 | $1,091 | 17 mi |
| Howard Lake | city | 1,832 | $92,188 | $911 | 10 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 21 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Carver County leads the group on income ($125,946), Meeker County trails ($75,446), and Wright County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | - | $107,209 | $1,288/mo | 84% |
| Sherburne County, MN | 21 mi | $105,466 | $1,127/mo | 83% |
| Carver County, MN | 26 mi | $125,946 | $1,514/mo | 81% |
| Hennepin County, MN | 27 mi | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
| Meeker County, MN | 28 mi | $75,446 | $904/mo | 79% |
| McLeod County, MN | 29 mi | $80,084 | $941/mo | 77% |
| Anoka County, MN | 36 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
A Wright County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Wright County's medians:
- $107,209 a year is $8,934 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,288, which is 14% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,928 a month
- $2,554: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Wright County, in numbers
34% of Wright County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.4%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| People and households | Wright County | Minnesota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wright County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Wright County
Where the Wright County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Wright County budgets.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 53% of Wright County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Wright County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Minnesota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
Wright County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wright County household make?
About $107,209 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% above the Minnesota median.
How does Wright County rent compare with Minnesota?
$1,288 locally, close to the state figure.
What are the biggest places in Wright County?
By population: Otsego, St. Michael, Buffalo, Monticello, Albertville. The county has 16 Census places in all.
Can Wright County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Wright County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.