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

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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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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#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

#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

#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

#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

#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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