Counties with the lowest cost of living in Minnesota

Written by:
April 12, 2024
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Counties with the lowest cost of living in Minnesota

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Minnesota using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Nobles County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,226
- Population: 22,194
- Median household income: $62,973
- Median home value: $161,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $852 (26% rent)

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#29. Brown County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,197
- Population: 25,880
- Median household income: $67,038
- Median home value: $165,200 (79% own)
- Median rent: $825 (21% rent)

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#28. Mower County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,189
- Population: 40,082
- Median household income: $66,972
- Median home value: $158,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $818 (25% rent)

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#27. Roseau County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,132
- Population: 15,294
- Median household income: $70,122
- Median home value: $164,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $794 (20% rent)

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#26. Fillmore County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,084
- Population: 21,251
- Median household income: $73,234
- Median home value: $196,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $724 (18% rent)

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#25. Freeborn County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,071
- Population: 30,857
- Median household income: $65,679
- Median home value: $154,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $803 (22% rent)

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#24. Grant County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,014
- Population: 6,091
- Median household income: $67,600
- Median home value: $161,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $778 (20% rent)

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#23. Clearwater County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,010
- Population: 8,541
- Median household income: $62,723
- Median home value: $161,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $753 (18% rent)

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#22. Stevens County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 1,005
- Population: 9,682
- Median household income: $69,737
- Median home value: $170,700 (68% own)
- Median rent: $821 (32% rent)

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#21. Lyon County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 984
- Population: 25,352
- Median household income: $68,919
- Median home value: $177,600 (70% own)
- Median rent: $718 (30% rent)

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#20. Chippewa County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 961
- Population: 12,466
- Median household income: $62,112
- Median home value: $138,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $788 (29% rent)

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#19. Mahnomen County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 913
- Population: 5,389
- Median household income: $52,739
- Median home value: $132,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $693 (29% rent)

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#18. Swift County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 910
- Population: 9,806
- Median household income: $58,362
- Median home value: $132,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $823 (26% rent)

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#17. Martin County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 891
- Population: 19,960
- Median household income: $61,674
- Median home value: $148,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $767 (27% rent)

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#16. Rock County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 869
- Population: 9,659
- Median household income: $75,060
- Median home value: $189,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $788 (23% rent)

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#15. Cottonwood County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 855
- Population: 11,481
- Median household income: $63,586
- Median home value: $141,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $755 (23% rent)

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#14. Renville County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 624
- Population: 14,707
- Median household income: $66,313
- Median home value: $138,200 (79% own)
- Median rent: $746 (21% rent)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#13. Redwood County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 617
- Population: 15,428
- Median household income: $65,617
- Median home value: $138,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $759 (20% rent)

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#12. Wilkin County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 562
- Population: 6,454
- Median household income: $67,114
- Median home value: $169,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $549 (20% rent)

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#11. Jackson County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 523
- Population: 9,990
- Median household income: $68,368
- Median home value: $140,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $764 (19% rent)

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#10. Lincoln County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 507
- Population: 5,630
- Median household income: $64,750
- Median home value: $139,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $677 (18% rent)

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#9. Norman County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 504
- Population: 6,457
- Median household income: $65,278
- Median home value: $129,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $717 (19% rent)

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#8. Koochiching County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 469
- Population: 12,072
- Median household income: $59,779
- Median home value: $132,200 (81% own)
- Median rent: $686 (19% rent)

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#7. Murray County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 462
- Population: 8,170
- Median household income: $71,500
- Median home value: $163,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $697 (18% rent)

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#6. Watonwan County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 450
- Population: 11,205
- Median household income: $65,197
- Median home value: $119,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $736 (20% rent)

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#5. Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 424
- Population: 9,569
- Median household income: $70,605
- Median home value: $145,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $640 (17% rent)

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#4. Marshall County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 372
- Population: 9,017
- Median household income: $69,396
- Median home value: $140,900 (85% own)
- Median rent: $694 (15% rent)

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#3. Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 364
- Population: 6,736
- Median household income: $66,967
- Median home value: $127,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $750 (17% rent)

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#2. Faribault County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 347
- Population: 13,931
- Median household income: $64,000
- Median home value: $116,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $697 (20% rent)

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#1. Pipestone County, Minnesota

- Overall Rank: 242
- Population: 9,380
- Median household income: $68,341
- Median home value: $126,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $677 (20% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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