Pennington County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Pennington 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
Pennington County Around averageWealthier than 72% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pennington County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,455 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,719 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pennington County is about 14% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing faster in Pennington County (4.5%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Pennington 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 Pennington County, Minnesota grew by 77.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,455 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pennington County
| Metric | Pennington County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.458 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,947 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,216 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.4% | 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 Pennington County, it is 0.458, 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 34% more than women's income in Pennington County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $585,585 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pennington County, Minnesota has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,582 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Pennington County widened by 1.4 points while Minnesota's narrowed by 7.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Pennington County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.2% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 225 people are unemployed in Pennington County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Pennington County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pennington County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.5% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.9% in 2022.
Pennington County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pennington County, MN is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 11,337 residents against a local median of 8,909. The measure that sets Pennington County, MN apart most is unemployment: 2.9%, 19% below the local median of 3.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 8.8% on unemployment, so Pennington County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Pennington County, MN has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County, MN | 11,337 | $77,455 #1/6 | 4.5%/yr #3/6 | 2.9% #2/6 | 0.458 #1/6 |
| Red Lake County, MN | 3,915 | $76,854 | 5.7%/yr | 1.1% | 0.462 |
| Marshall County, MN | 8,909 | $72,346 | 3.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.476 |
| Polk County, MN | 30,705 | $73,256 | 4.1%/yr | 3.6% | 0.502 |
| Roseau County, MN | 15,302 | $74,799 | 4.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.486 |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 5,358 | $59,265 | 4.5%/yr | 9.8% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pennington 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 Pennington County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Pennington County, Minnesota?
Pennington 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 $77,455, about 14% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How has median household income changed in Pennington County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pennington County, Minnesota rose 77%, from $43,744 to $77,455. Over the same years, income here outpaced Minnesota as a whole: +77% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Pennington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pennington County, Minnesota was $73,723, up 1% from $73,020 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Pennington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pennington County, Minnesota was $59,609. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $77,455.
Is it hard to find a job in Pennington County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Pennington 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 Pennington County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Pennington County is 0.458. 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 Pennington County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pennington County, Minnesota has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,582 since 2009.
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