Pope County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Pope 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
Pope County Around averageWealthier than 74% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pope County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,585 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,499 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.2% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pope County is about 14% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Pope County (4.2%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Pope 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 Pope County, Minnesota grew by 63.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,585 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pope County
| Metric | Pope County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.476 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,683 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,470 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.6% | 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 Pope County, it is 0.476, 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 28% more than women's income in Pope County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $497,455 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pope County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 24% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2014, and was narrowest at 20% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,542 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Pope County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.3% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.7% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 73 people are unemployed in Pope County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Pope County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pope County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.5% to 1.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.6% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2022.
Pope County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pope County, MN is typical in size for this group, 11,416 residents against a local median of 12,377, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Pope County, MN's unemployment, at 1.3%, runs 65% below the 3.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.5% on unemployment, so Pope County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Pope 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County, MN | 11,416 | $77,585 #2/6 | 4.2%/yr #2/6 | 1.3% #1/6 | 0.476 #1/6 |
| Douglas County, MN | 39,575 | $78,681 | 4.1%/yr | 2.9% | 0.482 |
| Swift County, MN | 9,748 | $60,667 | 2.5%/yr | 4.4% | 0.508 |
| Stevens County, MN | 9,740 | $75,380 | 4.0%/yr | 2.0% | 0.535 |
| Chippewa County, MN | 12,377 | $70,506 | 3.5%/yr | 4.3% | 0.499 |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 44,079 | $77,140 | 4.6%/yr | 3.6% | 0.492 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pope 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 Pope County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Pope County, Minnesota?
Pope 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 $77,585, about 14% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
Are incomes growing in Pope County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pope County, Minnesota rose 63%, from $47,606 to $77,585. Over the same years, income here outpaced Minnesota as a whole: +63% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Pope County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pope County, Minnesota was $72,127, up 2% from $70,823 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Pope County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pope County, Minnesota was $62,855. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $77,585.
Is it hard to find a job in Pope County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Pope County, Minnesota is only 1.3%, 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 Pope County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Pope County is 0.476. 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 Pope County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pope County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 24% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2014, and was narrowest at 20% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,542 since 2009.
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