Minnesota Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 87 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$915/mo
Average Home Value
$222,532
Average Owner Cost
$1,092/mo
County cost atlas
Minnesota housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
87
Avg rent
$915/mo
Owner cost
$1,092/mo
Avg score
40.0
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Minnesota: An Overview
The median rent in Minnesota is $915 per month, which is 21% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Minnesota, housing costs vary significantly by county. Washington County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,637 per month and a median home value of $400,900. Wilkin County has the lowest reported median rent at $561 per month and a median home value of $172,300.
The average home value across Minnesota counties is $222,532, 21% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $75,757, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Minnesota, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Minnesota
How median rents are spread across 87 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Minnesota Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | Expensive$1,637/mo | $400,900 | $1,762/mo | 4.6 | 29.0% |
| Dakota County | Moderate$1,497/mo | $362,100 | $1,696/mo | 5.9 | 29.0% |
| Scott County | Moderate$1,485/mo | $393,500 | $1,922/mo | 5.0 | 29.0% |
| Carver County | Moderate$1,444/mo | $426,900 | $1,993/mo | 5.2 | 26.0% |
| Hennepin County | Moderate$1,439/mo | $376,500 | $1,788/mo | 6.1 | 28.0% |
| Anoka County | Moderate$1,396/mo | $325,800 | $1,576/mo | 8.2 | 30.0% |
| Ramsey County | Moderate$1,298/mo | $304,900 | $1,536/mo | 9.9 | 30.0% |
| Olmsted County | Moderate$1,283/mo | $304,500 | $1,378/mo | 12.2 | 29.0% |
| Wright County | Moderate$1,246/mo | $332,800 | $1,678/mo | 9.5 | 27.0% |
| Isanti County | Moderate$1,241/mo | $283,200 | $1,503/mo | 11.2 | 29.0% |
| Sherburne County | Moderate$1,151/mo | $332,700 | $1,669/mo | 11.7 | 27.0% |
| Chisago County | Moderate$1,112/mo | $326,600 | $1,643/mo | 13.1 | 30.0% |
| Blue Earth County | Moderate$1,076/mo | $252,800 | $1,229/mo | 19.5 | 28.0% |
| Stearns County | Moderate$1,057/mo | $256,500 | $1,222/mo | 20.6 | 28.0% |
| Rice County | Moderate$1,046/mo | $298,500 | $1,399/mo | 17.9 | 28.0% |
| Lake County | Moderate$1,026/mo | $222,900 | $947/mo | 30.9 | 23.0% |
| Dodge County | Moderate$1,007/mo | $267,500 | $1,405/mo | 19.3 | 25.0% |
| Steele County | Moderate$1,006/mo | $234,200 | $1,258/mo | 21.8 | 33.0% |
| Kanabec County | Moderate$1,003/mo | $221,100 | $1,143/mo | 24.5 | 25.0% |
| Clay County | Moderate$1,000/mo | $256,000 | $1,376/mo | 20.1 | 31.0% |
| Beltrami County | Affordable$991/mo | $222,300 | $970/mo | 31.6 | 26.0% |
| St. Louis County | Affordable$970/mo | $208,500 | $1,034/mo | 30.2 | 31.0% |
| Carlton County | Affordable$967/mo | $232,000 | $1,312/mo | 23.1 | 26.0% |
| Crow Wing County | Affordable$962/mo | $274,400 | $1,141/mo | 27.1 | 27.0% |
| Itasca County | Affordable$944/mo | $212,000 | $967/mo | 34.5 | 33.0% |
| Goodhue County | Affordable$939/mo | $269,400 | $1,268/mo | 25.5 | 29.0% |
| Brown County | Affordable$931/mo | $181,700 | $901/mo | 38.7 | 28.0% |
| Nicollet County | Affordable$931/mo | $258,500 | $1,278/mo | 25.8 | 26.0% |
| Hubbard County | Affordable$923/mo | $255,900 | $1,057/mo | 32.5 | 29.0% |
| Benton County | Affordable$917/mo | $247,100 | $1,295/mo | 26.5 | 24.0% |
| Aitkin County | Affordable$912/mo | $235,100 | $838/mo | 44.6 | 29.0% |
| Mille Lacs County | Affordable$909/mo | $237,500 | $1,247/mo | 28.2 | 28.0% |
| McLeod County | Affordable$906/mo | $233,400 | $1,187/mo | 29.8 | 24.0% |
| Pennington County | Affordable$900/mo | $188,900 | $1,076/mo | 33.8 | 23.0% |
| Swift County | Affordable$900/mo | $147,100 | $761/mo | 50.8 | 32.0% |
| Becker County | Affordable$899/mo | $266,900 | $1,095/mo | 33.1 | 28.0% |
| Douglas County | Affordable$896/mo | $291,700 | $1,240/mo | 29.5 | 24.0% |
| Meeker County | Affordable$894/mo | $228,900 | $1,128/mo | 32.4 | 25.0% |
| Cass County | Affordable$889/mo | $262,300 | $954/mo | 39.3 | 26.0% |
| Cook County | Affordable$886/mo | $294,000 | $1,053/mo | 35.5 | 23.0% |
| Roseau County | Affordable$886/mo | $177,100 | $1,019/mo | 36.6 | 25.0% |
| Le Sueur County | Affordable$885/mo | $287,700 | $1,336/mo | 28.5 | 29.0% |
| Houston County | Affordable$881/mo | $226,300 | $969/mo | 39.2 | 27.0% |
| Pine County | Affordable$873/mo | $225,600 | $1,051/mo | 36.9 | 29.0% |
| Lake of the Woods County | Affordable$867/mo | $215,000 | $839/mo | 48.3 | 31.0% |
| Winona County | Affordable$866/mo | $222,900 | $1,068/mo | 36.9 | 28.0% |
| Nobles County | Affordable$863/mo | $179,200 | $816/mo | 50.5 | 22.0% |
| Sibley County | Affordable$858/mo | $215,000 | $1,113/mo | 36.0 | 24.0% |
| Pope County | Affordable$851/mo | $242,800 | $1,085/mo | 37.9 | 32.0% |
| Todd County | Affordable$850/mo | $188,400 | $863/mo | 48.6 | 27.0% |
| Mower County | Affordable$848/mo | $172,000 | $994/mo | 41.6 | 27.0% |
| Chippewa County | Affordable$846/mo | $149,000 | $936/mo | 44.6 | 27.0% |
| Kandiyohi County | Affordable$843/mo | $230,500 | $1,151/mo | 36.7 | 24.0% |
| Polk County | Affordable$843/mo | $211,100 | $1,085/mo | 38.8 | 34.0% |
| Faribault County | Affordable$837/mo | $120,200 | $826/mo | 52.8 | 25.0% |
| Freeborn County | Affordable$837/mo | $164,900 | $888/mo | 48.0 | 26.0% |
| Stevens County | Affordable$833/mo | $180,800 | $887/mo | 48.6 | 25.0% |
| Waseca County | Affordable$819/mo | $213,200 | $1,139/mo | 39.5 | 26.0% |
| Lac qui Parle County | Affordable$809/mo | $143,400 | $754/mo | 60.6 | 22.0% |
| Watonwan County | Affordable$807/mo | $151,600 | $888/mo | 51.4 | 25.0% |
| Otter Tail County | Affordable$805/mo | $252,500 | $997/mo | 46.4 | 28.0% |
| Wabasha County | Affordable$798/mo | $245,800 | $1,161/mo | 41.8 | 27.0% |
| Morrison County | Affordable$782/mo | $237,000 | $1,063/mo | 46.9 | 23.0% |
| Grant County | Affordable$779/mo | $178,600 | $929/mo | 52.9 | 26.0% |
| Koochiching County | Affordable$774/mo | $143,700 | $753/mo | 65.3 | 23.0% |
| Murray County | Affordable$768/mo | $179,400 | $834/mo | 60.8 | 20.0% |
| Redwood County | Affordable$767/mo | $150,400 | $784/mo | 64.3 | 25.0% |
| Cottonwood County | Affordable$765/mo | $154,000 | $835/mo | 61.2 | 22.0% |
| Fillmore County | Affordable$763/mo | $204,000 | $1,049/mo | 50.1 | 25.0% |
| Renville County | Affordable$760/mo | $151,900 | $863/mo | 59.5 | 29.0% |
| Norman County | Affordable$752/mo | $135,700 | $826/mo | 63.3 | 23.0% |
| Rock County | Affordable$745/mo | $201,600 | $906/mo | 58.1 | 26.0% |
| Lyon County | Affordable$742/mo | $193,100 | $934/mo | 57.2 | 26.0% |
| Clearwater County | Affordable$740/mo | $177,100 | $887/mo | 60.0 | 26.0% |
| Marshall County | Affordable$737/mo | $153,300 | $791/mo | 67.1 | 24.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$736/mo | $145,400 | $760/mo | 69.3 | 22.0% |
| Martin County | Affordable$735/mo | $158,800 | $838/mo | 64.1 | 29.0% |
| Pipestone County | Affordable$731/mo | $126,700 | $787/mo | 68.0 | 29.0% |
| Kittson County | Affordable$728/mo | $134,400 | $772/mo | 69.3 | 22.0% |
| Big Stone County | Affordable$718/mo | $135,700 | $750/mo | 72.4 | 27.0% |
| Wadena County | Affordable$706/mo | $170,500 | $883/mo | 64.0 | 25.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$688/mo | $152,200 | $777/mo | 72.8 | 24.0% |
| Yellow Medicine County | Affordable$688/mo | $148,200 | $904/mo | 64.2 | 22.0% |
| Mahnomen County | Affordable$685/mo | $146,500 | $757/mo | 74.6 | 24.0% |
| Red Lake County | Affordable$628/mo | $157,200 | $901/mo | 67.5 | 20.0% |
| Traverse County | Affordable$617/mo | $110,100 | $751/mo | 78.5 | 27.0% |
| Wilkin County | Affordable$561/mo | $172,300 | $907/mo | 69.0 | 25.0% |
Compare Minnesota to Other States
See how Minnesota counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Minnesota?
What is the most expensive county to live in Minnesota?
How does Minnesota's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Minnesota?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.