Cost of Living in Houston 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 Houston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Houston County ranks #1,940 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 38%)
Sourced county brief
Houston County Renter Household Income Estimated at 38,261 Dollars
Renter-household median income in Houston County was estimated at $38,261 during the 2020-2024 period. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.3%, which is 2.0 percentage points above the Minnesota unweighted county mean of 27.3%. The median gross rent for the county was $879, which is $59 below the state unweighted county mean of $938. For homeowners, the median home value was $239,000, slightly above the state unweighted county mean of $238,336. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,038, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The reported 29.3% GRAPI is the official canonical rent-to-income percentage. 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: Houston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.3% of renter household income in Houston 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 $879 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,038. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,160 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. Houston County's $879 median is 6.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Houston County
Rent Burden
13.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,863
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.6%
of gross income
The median home in Houston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $239,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,908 vs. your max of $1,863.
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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