Cost of Living in McLeod 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 McLeod County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McLeod County ranks #2,294 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 27%)
Sourced county brief
McLeod County Median Gross Rent Exceeds State Unweighted Mean
Median gross rent in McLeod County is $941 per month, which is $3 above the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $938. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for renter-occupied units is 25.7%. This official GRAPI metric is 1.6 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 27.3%. Renter-household median income was found to be $47,459. For homeowners, the median home value was estimated at $246,100, and median selected monthly owner costs were $1,207. These figures are above the state unweighted county means of $238,336 for home value and $1,116 for monthly owner costs. All data is from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. 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: McLeod County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.7% of renter household income in McLeod 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 $941 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,207. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,640 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. McLeod County's $941 median is 0.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McLeod County
Rent Burden
14.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,869
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.1%
of gross income
The median home in McLeod County may be a stretch
Median home value is $246,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,965 vs. your max of $1,869.
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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