Minnesota · GEOID 27001

Aitkin County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 16,056 · 14,253 housing units

Median household income

$60,833

State $90,564

Median home value

$255,800

State $324,699

Median gross rent

$869

State $1,292

Homeownership rate

85.3%

State 72.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

47.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

25.1%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

1.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

49.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.20

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Aitkin County	Minnesota
Population	16,056	5,739,445
Population density (per sq. mi.)	8.82	—
Median household income	$60,833	$90,564
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$83,800	—
Households	7,222	—
Average household size	2.19 people	—
Owner-occupied	85.3%	72.2%
Renter-occupied	14.7%	27.8%
Race	93.4% White · 0.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Aitkin County compared with Minnesota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

20.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 39.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	33.0%	$56,638	$1,416	$179,806
1 earner	27.9%	$64,621	$1,616	$209,522
2 earners	32.7%	$105,066	$2,627	$360,072
3+ earners	6.4%	$127,917	$3,198	$445,131

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

7,222

Average size: 2.19 people

Households with children

1,054

14.6% of households

Per-capita income

$36,503

Poverty rate: 14.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

85.3% owner-occupied vs. state average 72.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 83.9% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 2.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

47.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,982.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $255,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $869.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 7,031 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 0.5% · For rent 0.2% · Seasonal 96.3% · Other 2.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

1.0% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 99.0% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

47.5%

6,773 units of 14,253 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

1.3%

186 units of 14,253 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$48,666

100% MHI$60,833

120% MHI$73,000

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Aitkin County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$54,900	$62,750	$78,400
100% AMI	$58,660	$67,040	$83,800
120% AMI	$70,400	$80,450	$100,550

HUD FMR Area: Aitkin County, MN. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

47.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (22.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

25.1% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Aitkin County.

Covered employment

3,095

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

430

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$40,796

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	624	$30,828	$83,733	−$172,067	$771
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	567	$19,318	$40,889	−$214,911	$483
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	373	$47,758	$146,752	−$109,048	$1,194
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	368	$54,494	$171,826	−$83,974	$1,362
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	346	$59,889	$191,908	−$63,892	$1,497
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	249	$55,998	$177,424	−$78,376	$1,400
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	159	$22,773	$53,749	−$202,051	$569
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	121	$53,357	$167,593	−$88,207	$1,334
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	98	$56,565	$179,535	−$76,265	$1,414
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	90	$29,657	$79,374	−$176,426	$741
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	39	$55,329	$174,934	−$80,866	$1,383
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	22	$28,115	$73,634	−$182,166	$703
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	14	$68,025	$222,193	−$33,607	$1,701
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	13	$40,875	$121,131	−$134,669	$1,022
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	8	$95,248	$323,526	+$67,726	$2,381
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	4	$56,960	$181,005	−$74,795	$1,424

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	494	$18,690	$38,551	−$217,249	$467
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	373	$47,758	$146,752	−$109,048	$1,194
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	250	$49,081	$151,677	−$104,123	$1,227
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	201	$43,610	$131,312	−$124,488	$1,090
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	162	$19,564	$41,804	−$213,996	$489
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	154	$55,647	$176,118	−$79,682	$1,391
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	145	$23,945	$58,112	−$197,688	$599
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	136	$53,949	$169,797	−$86,003	$1,349
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	112	$17,289	$33,336	−$222,464	$432
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	106	$60,300	$193,438	−$62,362	$1,508
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	84	$29,771	$79,798	−$176,002	$744
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	74	$27,733	$72,212	−$183,588	$693
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	73	$23,569	$56,712	−$199,088	$589
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	63	$33,704	$94,438	−$161,362	$843
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	61	$65,448	$212,600	−$43,200	$1,636
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	55	$22,304	$52,004	−$203,796	$558
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	51	$70,206	$230,311	−$25,489	$1,755
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	51	$58,754	$187,683	−$68,117	$1,469
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	42	$61,336	$197,294	−$58,506	$1,533
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	34	$60,857	$195,511	−$60,289	$1,521
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	29	$64,903	$210,571	−$45,229	$1,623
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	28	$20,197	$44,161	−$211,639	$505
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	25	$42,657	$127,764	−$128,036	$1,066
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	17	$63,337	$204,742	−$51,058	$1,583
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	14	$31,823	$87,437	−$168,363	$796
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	13	$36,751	$105,780	−$150,020	$919
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	10	$27,565	$71,587	−$184,213	$689
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	9	$19,174	$40,353	−$215,447	$479
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	8	$95,248	$323,526	+$67,726	$2,381
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	7	$44,518	$134,692	−$121,108	$1,113
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	4	$56,960	$181,005	−$74,795	$1,424
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	3	$3,350	$0	−$255,800	$84
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	3	$66,895	$217,986	−$37,814	$1,672

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	730	(230)	(24%)	$13.07	$27,190	$70,191	$680
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,220	10	1%	$14.81	$30,800	$83,629	$770
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,740	(50)	(3%)	$15.03	$31,260	$85,341	$782
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	190	30	19%	$16.10	$33,500	$93,679	$838
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,060	(210)	(17%)	$17.40	$36,190	$103,692	$905
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	120	(230)	(66%)	$17.61	$36,640	$105,367	$916
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	820	(60)	(7%)	$18.81	$39,120	$114,598	$978
Tellers SOC 43-3071	230	(30)	(12%)	$19.53	$40,630	$120,219	$1,016
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	450	40	10%	$21.09	$43,870	$132,280	$1,097
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	850	(150)	(15%)	$22.11	$45,980	$140,134	$1,150
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	710	280	65%	$27.67	$57,550	$183,201	$1,439
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	640	(330)	(34%)	$28.24	$58,750	$187,668	$1,469
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	680	330	94%	$29.25	$60,840	$195,448	$1,521
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	320	(70)	(18%)	$31.58	$65,680	$213,464	$1,642
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	40	(160)	(80%)	$31.97	$66,510	$216,553	$1,663
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	620	(120)	(16%)	—	$67,940	$221,876	$1,699
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	210	0	0%	$33.79	$70,290	$230,624	$1,757
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	260	70	37%	$37.92	$78,880	$262,599	$1,972
Electricians SOC 47-2111	160	(30)	(16%)	$38.98	$81,070	$270,751	$2,027
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,020	270	36%	$44.49	$92,540	$313,446	$2,314

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 27001 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.