Cost of Living in Brown 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 Brown County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Brown County ranks #1,874 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 40%)
Sourced county brief
Brown County Median Home Value Estimated at $191,200
In Brown County, the median home value was estimated at $191,200, which is $47,136 below the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $238,336. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, defined as the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (ACS B25071), was 28.9%. This percentage is 1.6 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 27.3%. The median gross rent in the county was $890 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $938. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs were $954, below the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The median renter-household income was $42,802. These statistics are point-in-time estimates from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey and should not be used as relocation or investment advice. See ACS table B25077 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: Brown County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in Brown 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 $890 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $954. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,600 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. Brown County's $890 median is 5.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Brown County
Rent Burden
15.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,619
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Brown County
Median home value is $191,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,526 vs. your max of $1,619.
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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