Brown County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Brown 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.
-
B
Brown County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Brown County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,882 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,325 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.2% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.2% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Brown County is about 22% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Brown County (3.2%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Brown 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 Brown County, Minnesota grew by 44.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,882 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Brown County
| Metric | Brown County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.473 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,155 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,595 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.0% | 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 Brown County, it is 0.473, 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 22% more than women's income in Brown County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $404,600 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brown County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 32% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,231 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Brown County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.3% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 393 people are unemployed in Brown County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Brown County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Brown County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.0% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.0% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.6% in 2019.
Brown County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Brown County, MN is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 25,800 residents against a local median of 13,610. The measure that sets Brown County, MN apart most is income growth: 3.2%/yr, 22% below the local median of 4.0%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.0%/yr on income growth, so Brown County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Brown County, MN has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County, MN | 25,800 | $69,882 #5/6 | 3.2%/yr #6/6 | 2.9% #5/6 | 0.473 #1/6 |
| Watonwan County, MN | 11,205 | $72,035 | 4.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.502 |
| Nicollet County, MN | 34,262 | $79,826 | 3.4%/yr | 2.2% | 0.514 |
| Cottonwood County, MN | 11,447 | $72,183 | 5.4%/yr | 2.8% | 0.507 |
| Renville County, MN | 14,558 | $70,904 | 3.4%/yr | 2.5% | 0.498 |
| Redwood County, MN | 13,610 | $67,231 | 4.0%/yr | 2.6% | 0.500 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Brown 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 Brown County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Brown County, Minnesota?
Brown 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 $69,882, about 22% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Brown County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Brown County, Minnesota rose 45%, from $48,238 to $69,882. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +45% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Brown County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Brown County, Minnesota was $69,059, up 2% from $67,594 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Brown County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Brown County, Minnesota was $59,803. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $69,882.
Is unemployment high in Brown County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Brown County, Minnesota is only 2.9%, 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 Brown County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Brown County is 0.473. 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 Brown County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brown County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 32% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,231 since 2009.
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