Cook County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Cook 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
Cook County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cook County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,249 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,947 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.2% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cook County is about 21% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Cook County (4.1%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Cook 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 Cook County, Minnesota grew by 51.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,249 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cook County
| Metric | Cook County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.460 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,850 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,494 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.1% | 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 Cook County, it is 0.460, 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 14% more than women's income in Cook County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $257,460 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cook County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 18% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2016, and was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,064 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cook County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 21.6% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 67 people are unemployed in Cook County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Cook County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cook County, Minnesota has fallen from 6.4% to 2.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.7% in 2020.
Cook County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cook County, MN is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,635 residents against a local median of 14,317. Where Cook County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 41% below the local median of 3.8% at 2.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.1%/yr against a local median of 5.1%/yr, 18% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Cook County, MN is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.9% on unemployment, so Cook County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cook 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County, MN | 5,635 | $71,249 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #6/6 | 2.2% #1/6 | 0.460 #1/6 |
| Ashland County, WI | 16,080 | $61,326 | 5.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.503 |
| Lake County, MN | 10,879 | $75,533 | 4.7%/yr | 2.6% | 0.480 |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 5,848 | $54,540 | 5.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.489 |
| Bayfield County, WI | 16,575 | $71,393 | 5.1%/yr | 3.6% | 0.489 |
| Gogebic County, MI | 14,317 | $52,407 | 4.9%/yr | 6.5% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cook 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 Cook County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Cook County, Minnesota?
Cook 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 $71,249, about 21% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How has median household income changed in Cook County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cook County, Minnesota rose 52%, from $46,944 to $71,249. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +52% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Cook County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cook County, Minnesota was $71,488, down 2% from $73,011 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Cook County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cook County, Minnesota was $59,681. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $71,249.
Is it hard to find a job in Cook County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Cook County, Minnesota is only 2.2%, 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 Cook County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Cook County is 0.460. 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 Cook County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cook County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 18% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2016, and was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,064 since 2009.
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