Counties in Minnesota Where People Spend Most of Their Paycheck on Housing

Mulad // Wikimedia Commons

Counties in Minnesota where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It’s no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Minnesota where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don’t have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people’s take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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Elkman // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Meeker County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 9,209
- Median household income: $63,452
- Median monthly housing cost: $862

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SH5544 // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Otter Tail County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 24,687
- Median household income: $58,682
- Median monthly housing cost: $803

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Dodge County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.5%
- Total occupied households: 7,756
- Median household income: $74,575
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,026

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Gobonobo // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Grant County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.7%
- Total occupied households: 2,612
- Median household income: $55,466
- Median monthly housing cost: $764

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Lyon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
- Total occupied households: 10,018
- Median household income: $57,730
- Median monthly housing cost: $798

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Nicollet County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 12,885
- Median household income: $67,399
- Median monthly housing cost: $948

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Becker County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
- Total occupied households: 13,617
- Median household income: $60,284
- Median monthly housing cost: $858

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Andrew Filer (afiler) // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Mahnomen County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 1,946
- Median household income: $44,688
- Median monthly housing cost: $637

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AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Wabasha County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 9,020
- Median household income: $65,226
- Median monthly housing cost: $930

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Morrison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 13,371
- Median household income: $57,815
- Median monthly housing cost: $828

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Olmsted County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 62,108
- Median household income: $76,951
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,110

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Hubbard County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 8,688
- Median household income: $56,709
- Median monthly housing cost: $820

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Steele County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 14,692
- Median household income: $64,903
- Median monthly housing cost: $941

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Cook County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,691
- Median household income: $57,432
- Median monthly housing cost: $836

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Douglas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 16,663
- Median household income: $63,819
- Median monthly housing cost: $931

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Itasca County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 19,506
- Median household income: $55,139
- Median monthly housing cost: $806

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Darb02 // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Mower County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 15,565
- Median household income: $54,295
- Median monthly housing cost: $794

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Kandiyohi County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 16,889
- Median household income: $60,294
- Median monthly housing cost: $886

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#32. McLeod County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 14,714
- Median household income: $62,121
- Median monthly housing cost: $914

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Le Sueur County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 10,939
- Median household income: $71,080
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,046

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McGhiever // Wikicommons

#30. Stearns County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 59,479
- Median household income: $62,789
- Median monthly housing cost: $924

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Rice County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 23,005
- Median household income: $68,584
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,011

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Clearwater County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.0%
- Total occupied households: 3,405
- Median household income: $50,386
- Median monthly housing cost: $744

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Cass County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 13,164
- Median household income: $52,204
- Median monthly housing cost: $771

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Carlton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.9%
- Total occupied households: 13,613
- Median household income: $63,098
- Median monthly housing cost: $935

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Canva

#25. St. Louis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 85,807
- Median household income: $55,646
- Median monthly housing cost: $829

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Wadena County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 5,666
- Median household income: $46,605
- Median monthly housing cost: $696

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Sherburne County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
- Total occupied households: 32,206
- Median household income: $89,250
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,335

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Iulus Ascanius // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Washington County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 94,431
- Median household income: $96,671
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,463

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Goodhue County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 19,452
- Median household income: $66,800
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,011

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Wright County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
- Total occupied households: 48,242
- Median household income: $84,974
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,295

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Waseca County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 7,425
- Median household income: $56,762
- Median monthly housing cost: $874

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Appraiser // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Scott County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 49,479
- Median household income: $102,152
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,574

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Anoka County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.7%
- Total occupied households: 128,198
- Median household income: $82,175
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,273

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Dakota County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 161,488
- Median household income: $86,036
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,335

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P199 // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Lake of the Woods County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.6%
- Total occupied households: 1,470
- Median household income: $49,967
- Median monthly housing cost: $777

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Carver County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.2%
- Total occupied households: 36,754
- Median household income: $101,496
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,590

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Crow Wing County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 26,820
- Median household income: $56,549
- Median monthly housing cost: $891

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Elkman // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Aitkin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.9%
- Total occupied households: 7,681
- Median household income: $49,351
- Median monthly housing cost: $782

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Clay County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.9%
- Total occupied households: 24,364
- Median household income: $65,269
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,036

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Benton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.0%
- Total occupied households: 16,452
- Median household income: $57,715
- Median monthly housing cost: $917

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Isanti County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 14,903
- Median household income: $74,616
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,193

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ACNWelc // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Pine County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 10,760
- Median household income: $53,422
- Median monthly housing cost: $863

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Mille Lacs County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 10,249
- Median household income: $56,135
- Median monthly housing cost: $914

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Chisago County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 20,242
- Median household income: $83,464
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,361

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Kanabec County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 6,439
- Median household income: $57,163
- Median monthly housing cost: $938

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Beltrami County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
- Total occupied households: 17,372
- Median household income: $49,160
- Median monthly housing cost: $810

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Blue Earth County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.9%
- Total occupied households: 26,091
- Median household income: $57,429
- Median monthly housing cost: $963

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Checubus // Shutterstock

#2. Hennepin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 508,030
- Median household income: $78,167
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,318

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Mulad // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Ramsey County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.2%
- Total occupied households: 209,043
- Median household income: $64,660
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,133

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