Steele County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Steele 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
Steele County Around averageWealthier than 78% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Steele County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $84,760 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,763 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Steele County is about 6% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing faster in Steele County (4.8%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Steele 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 Steele County, Minnesota grew by 52.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $84,760 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Steele County
| Metric | Steele County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.499 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,788 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,179 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.5% | 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 Steele County, it is 0.499, 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 33% more than women's income in Steele County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $616,315 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Steele County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,478 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Steele County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.7% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 664 people are unemployed in Steele County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Steele County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Steele County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.9% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.1% in 2023.
Steele County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Steele County, MN is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 37,436 residents against a local median of 30,623. Where Steele County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 16% above the local median of 4.2%/yr at 4.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 0.8%/yr on income growth, so Steele County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Steele County, MN has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steele County, MN | 37,436 | $84,760 #2/6 | 4.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #3/6 | 0.499 #4/6 |
| Rice County, MN | 67,917 | $82,909 | 3.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.535 |
| Waseca County, MN | 18,885 | $76,286 | 4.1%/yr | 2.5% | 0.508 |
| Dodge County, MN | 21,046 | $95,309 | 4.2%/yr | 3.3% | 0.465 |
| Freeborn County, MN | 30,623 | $70,120 | 4.6%/yr | 4.6% | 0.495 |
| Mower County, MN | 40,341 | $72,820 | 4.3%/yr | 3.9% | 0.491 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Steele 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 Steele County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Steele County, Minnesota?
Steele 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 $84,760, about 6% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Steele County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Steele County, Minnesota rose 53%, from $55,537 to $84,760. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +53% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Steele County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Steele County, Minnesota was $83,443, up 5% from $79,757 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Steele County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Steele County, Minnesota was $68,345. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $84,760.
What is the Gini coefficient in Steele County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Steele County is 0.499. 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 Steele County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Steele County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,478 since 2009.
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