CensusEasy
COUNTY

Blue Earth County

Minnesota · 70,634 residents (2025 est.) · 748 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Mankato metro area
The short version

Blue Earth County is a county of 69,871 people in Minnesota. This skews young, with a median age of 31.6. That puts it in the top 7% of US counties for household income. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. Growth has run 25% since 2000, or 13,930 more people. 5% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
69,871
+25%since 2000
from 55,941 in 2000
70,634 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
93 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 80 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.6
+6%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
748 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
52K57K62K67K71K19902000201020202024Blue Earth County
202470K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(3,493)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(3,982)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(3,891)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.7%(6,802)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2415.5%(10,822)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.6%(8,798)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(8,059)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.3%(6,487)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.8%(6,881)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.7%(6,107)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.4%(3,065)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(1,484)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,477
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,940 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,155
+99%since 2000
from $18,712 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.6%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.433
+1%since 2010
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$266,700
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,123
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $487 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 66.4% in 2000
38.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.37 people
−2%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+2%since 2009
from 3.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
43
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(52,620)
Black1.2%(658)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(988)
Asian1.8%(988)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(58,955)
Black4.8%(3,337)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(3,369)
Asian2.3%(1,596)
Other3.7%(2,614)
Diversity Score
35
+84%since 2009
from 19 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−27%since 2020
from 28 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.6%(2,505)
Spaniard0.4%(262)
Puerto Rican0.2%(110)
Salvadoran0.1%(96)
Costa Rican0.1%(54)
Argentine0.1%(40)
Honduran0.1%(36)
Colombian0%(24)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0%(18)
Asian origin
Korean0.5%(329)
Vietnamese0.4%(314)
Chinese0.3%(244)
Hmong0.2%(169)
Filipino0.2%(162)
Asian Indian0.2%(117)
Taiwanese0.1%(49)
Laotian0.1%(47)
Burmese0.1%(44)
Cambodian0%(30)
Pakistani0%(30)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(39)
Tongan0%(12)
Ancestry
German40%(27,928)
Norwegian11.7%(8,156)
Irish8.7%(6,074)
English5.7%(3,984)
American3.7%(2,589)
Swedish3.5%(2,411)
French2.5%(1,725)
Polish2.4%(1,701)
Danish1.5%(1,042)
Dutch1.2%(814)
Somali1.2%(809)
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh1.1%(774)
Czech0.9%(653)
Scottish0.9%(625)
Italian0.7%(514)
Arab0.7%(507)
Russian0.7%(493)
Finnish0.6%(424)
Ethiopian0.6%(416)
Belgian0.4%(299)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(211)
Lebanese0.3%(188)
Swiss0.2%(167)
Hungarian0.2%(124)
Croatian0.2%(122)
Kenyan0.1%(103)
Austrian0.1%(100)
Canadian0.1%(82)
Slovene0.1%(80)
Nigerian0.1%(65)
British0.1%(63)
Ukrainian0.1%(61)
Turkish0.1%(60)
Lithuanian0.1%(53)
Moroccan0.1%(50)
Egyptian0.1%(47)
Syrian0.1%(44)
West Indian0.1%(43)
Greek0.1%(41)
Serbian0.1%(35)
Bulgarian0%(16)
Slovak0%(16)
Ghanaian0%(13)
Romanian0%(12)
Haitian0%(7)
Latvian0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.2%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 87.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.8 min
+44%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 73.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
82.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 83.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
5.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 9.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2013
from 7.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.9%
+6.3 ptssince 2017
from 82.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 93.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
78.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 77.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
92.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 93.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.5%(14,617)
Married41.5%(12,260)
Widowed1.8%(527)
Divorced7.1%(2,106)
Women 15+
Never married42%(12,171)
Married43.2%(12,524)
Widowed5.9%(1,714)
Divorced8.9%(2,586)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2013
from 7.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
62.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 62.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 14.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
77.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 78.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
32.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 30.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.7%(621)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)13.6%(342)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era38.5%(967)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.8%(70)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2%(50)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,511 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Blue Earth County

Catoosa County
Pop 69,628
Lonoke County
Pop 76,664
Kosciusko County
Pop 80,892
Camden County
Pop 60,143
Places similar to Blue Earth County
Head to head

Compare Blue Earth County to nearby counties

BLUE EARTH COUNTY VS
Waseca County
Income$76,261+2%
Home value$220,800−17%
Population18,688−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLUE EARTH COUNTY VS
Nicollet County
Income$79,756+7%
Home value$270,300+1%
Population34,273−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLUE EARTH COUNTY VS
Faribault County
Income$66,815−10%
Home value$135,300−49%
Population13,888−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLUE EARTH COUNTY VS
Watonwan County
Income$71,699−4%
Home value$162,400−39%
Population11,459−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Blue Earth County, Minnesota?

Blue Earth County, Minnesota has about 69,871 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Blue Earth County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Blue Earth County, Minnesota earns about $74,477 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Blue Earth County, Minnesota expensive?

In Blue Earth County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $266,700, and the typical rent is about $1,123 a month.

How educated are people in Blue Earth County, Minnesota?

About 34.2% of adults age 25 and over in Blue Earth County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Blue Earth County, Minnesota?

About 15.7% of people in Blue Earth County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Blue Earth County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Blue Earth County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,827 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →