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COUNTY

Freeborn County

Minnesota · 30,440 residents (2025 est.) · 707.245 sq mi
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The short version

Freeborn County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,023. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $171,100. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
30,623
−6%since 2000
from 32,584 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 46 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+10%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:30,440 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K31K32K33K33K1990201020202024Freeborn County
202431K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,023
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,964 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,886
+118%since 2000
from $18,325 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+24.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
+8%since 2010
from 0.422 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$171,100
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$849
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $368 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.7% in 2000
20.5% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+17%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Freeborn County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(30,061)
Black0.2%(65)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(2,049)
Asian0.5%(171)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.5%(5,387)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(24,948)
Black1.5%(459)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(3,302)
Asian3.5%(1,086)
Other2.7%(828)
Diversity Score40.3%(12,343)
Segregation Score32.4%(9,927)
Diversity Score
40
+144%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
+4%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.4%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+57%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.1%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−84.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.3%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Freeborn County

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Pop 29,877
White County
Pop 29,802
Morgan County
Pop 30,306
Haralson County
Pop 33,066
Places similar to Freeborn County
Head to head

Compare Freeborn County to nearby counties

FREEBORN COUNTY VS
Worth County
Income$78,008+10%
Home value$145,800−15%
Population7,338−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FREEBORN COUNTY VS
Steele County
Income$84,196+19%
Home value$245,400+43%
Population37,464+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FREEBORN COUNTY VS
Waseca County
Income$76,261+7%
Home value$220,800+29%
Population18,688−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FREEBORN COUNTY VS
Winnebago County
Income$67,642−5%
Home value$135,000−21%
Population10,251−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Freeborn County, Minnesota?

Freeborn County, Minnesota has about 30,623 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Freeborn County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Freeborn County, Minnesota earns about $71,023 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Freeborn County, Minnesota expensive?

In Freeborn County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $171,100, and the typical rent is about $849 a month.

How educated are people in Freeborn County, Minnesota?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Freeborn County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Freeborn County, Minnesota?

About 10.6% of people in Freeborn County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Freeborn County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Freeborn County, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,437 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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12 ZIP codes
ZIP 56007ZIP 56036ZIP 56009ZIP 56016ZIP 56045ZIP 56042ZIP 56029ZIP 56043ZIP 56032ZIP 56035ZIP 56089ZIP 56020
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Freeborn County, Minnesota: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy