Cost of Living in Benton County, Minnesota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Benton County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Benton County ranks #2,432 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 23%)
Sourced county brief
Benton County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,352
Benton County recorded median selected monthly owner costs of $1,352, which is $236 higher than the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $1,116. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (ACS B25071), was 25.5%, which is 1.8 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 27.3%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $982 per month, above the state unweighted county mean of $938. The median home value was $271,000, while the renter-household median income was $47,698. These figures are snapshots derived from the U.S. Census Bureau 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. This report does not offer market predictions or relocation advice. See ACS table B25088 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Benton County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.5% of renter household income in Benton County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $982 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,352. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,280 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Minnesota unweighted mean of county median rents is $938 per month. Benton County's $982 median is 4.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Benton County
Rent Burden
15.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,736
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.8%
of gross income
The median home in Benton County may be a stretch
Median home value is $271,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,163 vs. your max of $1,736.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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