Houston County, MN Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,603 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 32.7 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.02% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 44.0 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 8,074 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Houston County declined by 3.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 18,768 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Houston County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,732 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.69% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.9% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Houston County is about 13% lower than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $186,309 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $880 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.1% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Houston County is about 17.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $880 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Houston County spend about 42 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 173 hours, about 7.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.8 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.6 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 173 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,373 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,904 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 814 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Houston County is about the same as in Minnesota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Houston County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.29 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Houston County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.9 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.1% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.8% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Houston County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Houston County, Minnesota?
The population of Houston County, Minnesota is 18,603, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Houston County, Minnesota?
The population density of Houston County, Minnesota is 32.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Houston County, Minnesota?
The median household income in Houston County, Minnesota is $76,732, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Houston County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Houston County, Minnesota is $186,309, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Houston County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Houston County, Minnesota is 1.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.