Cost of Living in Pennington 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 Pennington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Pennington County ranks #1,966 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 37%)
Sourced county brief
Pennington County Median GRAPI Below Minnesota Unweighted County Mean
In Pennington County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 25.0%. This figure is 2.3 percentage points below the Minnesota unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.3%. The median gross rent in the county was $862 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $938. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units was $1,101, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The median home value was $195,500, while the Minnesota unweighted county mean was $238,336. Renter households in the county had a median income of $39,792, compared to the overall median household income of $77,325. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs for the 2020-2024 period and are not based on market forecasts. 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: Pennington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.0% of renter household income in Pennington 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 $862 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,101. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $34,480 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. Pennington County's $862 median is 8.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Pennington County
Rent Burden
13.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,804
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Pennington County
Median home value is $195,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,561 vs. your max of $1,804.
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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