Houston County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Houston 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
Houston County Around averageWealthier than 84% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,233 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,780 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Houston County is about 12% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing faster in Houston County (4.5%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Houston 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 Houston County, Minnesota grew by 52.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,233 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Houston County
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.487 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $72,030 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,586 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.8% | 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 Houston County, it is 0.487, 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 30% more than women's income in Houston County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $575,540 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Houston County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2016, and was narrowest at 17% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,495 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Houston County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.6% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 154 people are unemployed in Houston County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Houston County is 20 minutes, about the same as in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Houston County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.3% to 1.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.6% in 2022.
Houston County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Houston County, MN is typical in size for this group, 18,653 residents against a local median of 21,414, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Houston County, MN apart most is unemployment: 1.6%, 36% below the local median of 2.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 0.8% on unemployment, so Houston County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Houston 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County, MN | 18,653 | $79,233 #1/6 | 4.5%/yr #3/6 | 1.6% #1/6 | 0.487 #3/6 |
| Allamakee County, IA | 14,091 | $70,565 | 4.8%/yr | 2.5% | 0.484 |
| Winona County, MN | 49,782 | $70,228 | 3.7%/yr | 2.3% | 0.512 |
| La Crosse County, WI | 120,486 | $73,102 | 4.4%/yr | 3.1% | 0.510 |
| Winneshiek County, IA | 19,872 | $78,049 | 4.0%/yr | 2.3% | 0.507 |
| Fillmore County, MN | 21,414 | $78,803 | 4.7%/yr | 2.7% | 0.478 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Houston 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 Houston County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Houston County, Minnesota?
Houston 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 $79,233, about 12% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Houston County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Houston County, Minnesota rose 52%, from $52,049 to $79,233. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +52% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Houston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Houston County, Minnesota was $76,732, up 5% from $73,192 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Houston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Houston County, Minnesota was $59,565. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $79,233.
Is it hard to find a job in Houston County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Houston County, Minnesota is only 1.6%, 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 Houston County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Houston County is 0.487. 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 Houston County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Houston County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2016, and was narrowest at 17% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,495 since 2009.
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