Stearns County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Stearns 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
Stearns County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,155 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,676 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.1% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Stearns County is about 14% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Stearns County (3.8%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Stearns 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 Stearns County, Minnesota grew by 49.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,155 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Stearns County
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.509 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,549 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,642 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.6% | 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 Stearns County, it is 0.509, about the same as Minnesota's 0.507, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Stearns County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $346,745 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Stearns County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,006 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.6% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 3,642 people are unemployed in Stearns County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Stearns County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Stearns County, Minnesota has fallen from 6.7% to 4.1% in 2024.
Stearns County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Stearns County, MN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 160,684 residents against a local median of 34,249. Where Stearns County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 16% below the local median of 4.6%/yr at 3.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.3%/yr on income growth, so Stearns County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Stearns County, MN has the 5th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns County, MN | 160,684 | $77,155 #1/6 | 3.8%/yr #5/6 | 4.1% #6/6 | 0.509 #6/6 |
| Meeker County, MN | 23,466 | $75,665 | 3.3%/yr | 3.2% | 0.485 |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 44,079 | $77,140 | 4.6%/yr | 3.6% | 0.492 |
| Morrison County, MN | 34,249 | $70,796 | 3.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.496 |
| Todd County, MN | 25,575 | $67,400 | 4.6%/yr | 4.1% | 0.475 |
| Benton County, MN | 41,593 | $74,348 | 4.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.471 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Stearns 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 Stearns County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Stearns County, Minnesota?
Stearns 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 $77,155, about 14% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Stearns County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Stearns County, Minnesota rose 49%, from $51,696 to $77,155. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +49% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Stearns County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Stearns County, Minnesota was $76,801, up 5% from $73,176 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Stearns County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Stearns County, Minnesota was $65,995. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $77,155.
What is the Gini coefficient in Stearns County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Stearns County is 0.509. 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 Stearns County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Stearns County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,006 since 2009.
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