Cost of Living in Watonwan 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 Watonwan County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Watonwan County ranks #1,431 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 46%)
Sourced county brief
Watonwan County official rent burden below state unweighted mean
Watonwan County's official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 25.8%, a figure that is 1.5 percentage points below the Minnesota unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.3%. The median gross rent for the county is $834, while the state unweighted county mean is $938. For homeowners, the median home value was estimated at $162,400, which is $75,936 below the state unweighted county mean of $238,336. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $837, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The median renter-household income in the county is $37,530. These metrics represent a static five-year estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau and do not provide a basis for financial advice or relocation recommendations. 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: Watonwan County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.8% of renter household income in Watonwan 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 $834 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $837. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,360 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. Watonwan County's $834 median is 11.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Watonwan County
Rent Burden
14.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,673
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Watonwan County
Median home value is $162,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,296 vs. your max of $1,673.
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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