Cost of Living in Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Blue Earth County ranks #2,551 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Blue Earth County Official GRAPI Percentage is 29.2%
The official rentBurdenGrapiPct in Blue Earth County was 29.2%, which is 1.9 percentage points higher than the Minnesota unweighted county mean of 27.3%. This figure, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (ACS B25071), corresponds with a median gross rent of $1,123 per month, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $938. The median home value in the county was estimated at $266,700, while the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,234. These owner costs were above the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The median renter-household income was reported at $47,614. These data points are snapshot estimates from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey and do not include predictions of future market value. See ACS table B25071 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: Blue Earth County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.2% of renter household income in Blue Earth 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 $1,123 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,234. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,920 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. Blue Earth County's $1,123 median is 19.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Blue Earth County
Rent Burden
18.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,738
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
The median home in Blue Earth County may be a stretch
Median home value is $266,700. Estimated monthly cost: $2,129 vs. your max of $1,738.
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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