Minnesota · GEOID 27147

Steele County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 37,439 · 15,995 housing units

Median household income

$84,196

State $90,564

Median home value

$245,400

State $324,699

Median gross rent

$1,061

State $1,292

Homeownership rate

79.4%

State 72.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

60.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

5.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.91

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Steele County	Minnesota
Population	37,439	5,739,445
Population density (per sq. mi.)	87.16	—
Median household income	$84,196	$90,564
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$117,000	—
Households	15,138	—
Average household size	2.44 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.4%	72.2%
Renter-occupied	20.6%	27.8%
Race	85.8% White · 3.3% 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

Steele County compared with Minnesota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.0% 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	15.0%	$59,417	$1,485	$190,151
1 earner	26.1%	$64,196	$1,605	$207,940
2 earners	44.4%	$127,486	$3,187	$443,527
3+ earners	14.5%	$150,096	$3,752	$527,689

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

15,138

Average size: 2.44 people

Households with children

4,270

28.2% of households

Per-capita income

$41,674

Poverty rate: 7.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

79.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 72.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 79.5% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 9.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

58.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,975.00 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: $245,400.

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: $1,061.

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 857 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 11.0% · For rent 18.7% · Seasonal 20.4% · Other 26.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

34.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 65.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.1%

175 units of 15,995 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

1.4%

229 units of 15,995 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$67,357

100% MHI$84,196

120% MHI$101,035

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Steele 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	$65,550	$74,900	$93,600
100% AMI	$81,900	$93,600	$117,000
120% AMI	$98,300	$112,300	$140,400

HUD FMR Area: Steele 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

60.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (23.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.2% 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 Steele County.

Covered employment

15,746

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

989

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$54,406

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 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	4,657	$69,816	$228,859	−$16,541	$1,745
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	2,778	$38,442	$112,075	−$133,325	$961
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	2,281	$59,949	$192,131	−$53,269	$1,499
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,295	$21,910	$50,537	−$194,863	$548
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,168	$58,194	$185,598	−$59,802	$1,455
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	803	$56,876	$180,692	−$64,708	$1,422
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	640	$73,024	$240,801	−$4,599	$1,826
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	572	$40,490	$119,698	−$125,702	$1,012
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	546	$46,694	$142,791	−$102,609	$1,167
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	273	$73,138	$241,225	−$4,175	$1,828
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	243	$17,081	$32,562	−$212,838	$427
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	199	$59,183	$189,280	−$56,120	$1,480
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	169	$21,615	$49,439	−$195,961	$540
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	62	$110,444	$380,091	+$134,691	$2,761
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	60	$70,109	$229,950	−$15,450	$1,753

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	1,216	$21,846	$50,299	−$195,101	$546
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,168	$58,194	$185,598	−$59,802	$1,455
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,149	$70,390	$230,996	−$14,404	$1,760
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	864	$75,291	$249,239	+$3,839	$1,882
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	812	$32,214	$88,892	−$156,508	$805
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	763	$84,450	$283,332	+$37,932	$2,111
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	687	$40,621	$120,186	−$125,214	$1,016
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	595	$52,882	$165,825	−$79,575	$1,322
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	442	$24,278	$59,351	−$186,049	$607
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	426	$73,917	$244,125	−$1,275	$1,848
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	401	$87,536	$294,819	+$49,419	$2,188
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	386	$59,586	$190,780	−$54,620	$1,490
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	376	$66,871	$217,897	−$27,503	$1,672
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	327	$31,324	$85,579	−$159,821	$783
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	288	$78,213	$260,116	+$14,716	$1,955
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	269	$58,648	$187,288	−$58,112	$1,466
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	238	$51,436	$160,443	−$84,957	$1,286
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	234	$17,324	$33,466	−$211,934	$433
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	225	$51,185	$159,508	−$85,892	$1,280
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	204	$36,203	$103,740	−$141,660	$905
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	181	$29,219	$77,744	−$167,656	$730
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	174	$42,717	$127,988	−$117,412	$1,068
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	161	$25,589	$64,231	−$181,169	$640
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	156	$73,063	$240,946	−$4,454	$1,827
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	152	$39,879	$117,424	−$127,976	$997
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	151	$73,996	$244,419	−$981	$1,850
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	144	$68,877	$225,364	−$20,036	$1,722
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	137	$23,041	$54,747	−$190,653	$576
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	110	$49,037	$151,513	−$93,887	$1,226
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	95	$78,685	$261,873	+$16,473	$1,967
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	93	$83,979	$281,579	+$36,179	$2,099
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	87	$84,608	$283,920	+$38,520	$2,115
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	86	$48,927	$151,103	−$94,297	$1,223
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	78	$23,187	$55,290	−$190,110	$580
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	71	$60,712	$194,971	−$50,429	$1,518
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	62	$110,444	$380,091	+$134,691	$2,761
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	61	$66,336	$215,906	−$29,494	$1,658
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	60	$70,109	$229,950	−$15,450	$1,753
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	57	$44,956	$136,322	−$109,078	$1,124
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	38	$71,160	$233,862	−$11,538	$1,779
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	30	$64,070	$207,471	−$37,929	$1,602
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	26	$64,701	$209,820	−$35,580	$1,618
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	14	$70,098	$229,909	−$15,491	$1,752
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	13	$6,990	$0	−$245,400	$175
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	11	$54,863	$173,199	−$72,201	$1,372
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	9	$46,891	$143,525	−$101,875	$1,172

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	1,830	(520)	(22%)	$13.75	$28,600	$75,439	$715
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,220	(540)	(11%)	$14.90	$30,980	$84,299	$775
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,660	50	1%	$15.46	$32,170	$88,728	$804
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	630	280	80%	$15.63	$32,510	$89,994	$813
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,410	(2,010)	(37%)	$17.86	$37,150	$107,265	$929
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,570	20	1%	$19.55	$40,650	$120,294	$1,016
Tellers SOC 43-3071	530	(270)	(34%)	$20.55	$42,740	$128,073	$1,069
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,110	(2,500)	(54%)	$21.08	$43,840	$132,168	$1,096
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	220	(110)	(33%)	$21.96	$45,680	$139,017	$1,142
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,840	(670)	(19%)	$22.32	$46,430	$141,809	$1,161
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,060	890	76%	$27.57	$57,350	$182,457	$1,434
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,190	520	78%	$27.91	$58,060	$185,100	$1,452
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	520	(190)	(27%)	$28.60	$59,490	$190,422	$1,487
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,450	520	18%	$28.94	$60,190	$193,028	$1,505
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,600	(360)	(18%)	—	$67,160	$218,973	$1,679
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	80	(510)	(86%)	$36.27	$75,440	$249,794	$1,886
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	630	200	47%	$37.00	$76,950	$255,415	$1,924
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	580	0	0%	$37.19	$77,360	$256,941	$1,934
Electricians SOC 47-2111	930	170	22%	$37.63	$78,260	$260,291	$1,957
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,440	180	8%	$46.27	$96,240	$327,218	$2,406

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: 27147 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.