Benton County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Benton County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Benton County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,348 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,026 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.1% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 17% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing faster in Benton County (4.6%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Minnesota average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Minnesota grew by 48.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,348 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.471 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,318 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,417 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.2% | 16.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Benton County, it is 0.471, lower than Minnesota's 0.507, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Benton County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $451,535 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 25% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2012, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,632 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.5% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 917 people are unemployed in Benton County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Benton County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Minnesota has fallen from 8.7% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2020.
Benton County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, MN is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 41,593 residents against a local median of 100,509. Benton County, MN sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 15% above the local median at 4.6%/yr against 4.0%/yr. Benton County, MN has the 2nd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County, MN | 41,593 | $74,348 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #2/6 | 3.9% #3/6 | 0.471 #1/6 |
| Sherburne County, MN | 100,509 | $106,364 | 4.0%/yr | 3.0% | 0.494 |
| Morrison County, MN | 34,249 | $70,796 | 3.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.496 |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 27,123 | $73,418 | 4.6%/yr | 4.0% | 0.490 |
| Wright County, MN | 148,225 | $106,875 | 4.4%/yr | 2.7% | 0.489 |
| Stearns County, MN | 160,684 | $77,155 | 3.8%/yr | 4.1% | 0.509 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Minnesota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Benton County, Minnesota?
Benton County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,348, about 17% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
Are incomes growing in Benton County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Minnesota rose 48%, from $50,068 to $74,348. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +48% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Minnesota was $72,079, up 2% from $70,857 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Minnesota was $60,771. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $74,348.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.471. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benton County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 25% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2012, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,632 since 2009.
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