Big Stone County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Big Stone 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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C
Big Stone County Below averageLess wealthy than 92% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Big Stone County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,402 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,588 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.3% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Big Stone County is about 23% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing faster in Big Stone County (4.9%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Big Stone 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 Big Stone County, Minnesota grew by 73.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,402 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Big Stone County
| Metric | Big Stone County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.512 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,254 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,944 | $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 Big Stone County, it is 0.512, about the same as Minnesota's 0.507, so income here is about as evenly distributed as 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 Big Stone County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $430,850 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Big Stone County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,201 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Big Stone County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.6% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 42 people are unemployed in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Big Stone County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Big Stone County, Minnesota has fallen from 3.3% to 1.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.4% in 2012.
Big Stone County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Big Stone County, MN is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,126 residents against a local median of 7,563. Where Big Stone County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 35% below the local median of 2.7% at 1.8%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 4.0%/yr, 21% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Big Stone County, MN is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 4.0% on unemployment, so Big Stone County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Big Stone County, MN has the lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Stone County, MN | 5,126 | $69,402 #4/6 | 4.9%/yr #2/6 | 1.8% #1/6 | 0.512 #3/6 |
| Traverse County, MN | 3,243 | $62,029 | 2.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.530 |
| Grant County, SD | 7,563 | $75,027 | 4.4%/yr | 2.7% | 0.490 |
| Stevens County, MN | 9,740 | $75,380 | 4.0%/yr | 2.0% | 0.535 |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 6,682 | $74,450 | 5.4%/yr | 2.0% | 0.494 |
| Roberts County, SD | 10,221 | $66,327 | 3.6%/yr | 6.0% | 0.531 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Big Stone County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Minnesota, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Big Stone County, Minnesota?
Big Stone County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,402, about 23% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Big Stone County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Big Stone County, Minnesota rose 74%, from $39,966 to $69,402. Over the same years, income here outpaced Minnesota as a whole: +74% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Big Stone County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Big Stone County, Minnesota was $63,750, up 2% from $62,269 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Big Stone County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Big Stone County, Minnesota was $55,695. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $69,402.
Is unemployment high in Big Stone County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Big Stone County, Minnesota is only 1.8%, well below the Minnesota rate of 4.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Big Stone County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Big Stone County is 0.512. 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 Big Stone County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Big Stone County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,201 since 2009.
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