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COUNTY

Steele County

Minnesota · 37,464 residents (2025 est.) · 429.548 sq mi
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The short version

Steele County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,196. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $245,400. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
37,439
+11%since 2000
from 33,680 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
87 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 84 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.5
+13%since 2000
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:37,464 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K32K34K36K38K1990201020202024Steele County
202437K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(2,021)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(2,471)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(2,795)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(2,677)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(1,837)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(4,310)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(4,769)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(4,428)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(4,944)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.9%(4,082)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(1,980)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3%(1,125)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,196
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,106 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,674
+105%since 2000
from $20,328 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.3%
+24.6 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.414
+7%since 2010
from 0.389 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$245,400
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,061
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
20.6% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.8%
+15.8 ptssince 2009
from 40.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+4%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Steele County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(31,414)
Black1.1%(357)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(1,266)
Asian0.8%(284)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(31,246)
Black3.3%(1,219)
Hispanic / Latino8.9%(3,326)
Asian0.7%(275)
Other3.7%(1,373)
Diversity Score
37
+53%since 2009
from 24 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
−12%since 2020
from 29 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
Mexican7.8%(2,930)
Puerto Rican0.4%(147)
Guatemalan0.1%(44)
Honduran0.1%(41)
Nicaraguan0.1%(34)
Cuban0.1%(29)
Spaniard0.1%(25)
Asian origin
Korean0.3%(116)
Hmong0.2%(69)
Vietnamese0.1%(53)
Chinese0%(7)
Thai0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German31.6%(11,823)
Norwegian15.7%(5,888)
Irish8.6%(3,208)
English6.5%(2,431)
Czech4.8%(1,806)
Swedish3.7%(1,369)
American3.6%(1,354)
Polish2.6%(972)
Italian2.3%(844)
Danish1.9%(715)
French1.9%(713)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.3%(476)
Scottish1%(385)
Somali0.9%(352)
Finnish0.6%(219)
Welsh0.5%(203)
Ethiopian0.5%(173)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(154)
West Indian0.3%(115)
British0.2%(90)
Greek0.2%(78)
Russian0.1%(53)
Austrian0.1%(47)
Haitian0.1%(45)
Croatian0.1%(44)
Swiss0.1%(42)
Slovene0.1%(39)
Jamaican0.1%(36)
Belgian0.1%(24)
Arab0.1%(22)
Lebanese0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(22)
Hungarian0.1%(21)
Ukrainian0.1%(21)
Canadian0%(12)
Syrian0%(11)
Kenyan0%(10)
Slovak0%(8)
Latvian0%(2)
Turkish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+55%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 72.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.3%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% 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
11.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−90.5 ptssince 2013
from 94.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2017
from 79.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 92.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.2%(4,705)
Married57.9%(8,730)
Widowed2.1%(322)
Divorced8.7%(1,314)
Women 15+
Never married23.9%(3,604)
Married56.6%(8,532)
Widowed9.9%(1,490)
Divorced9.6%(1,455)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 37,128
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Pop 38,089
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Pop 35,297
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Pop 37,167
Places similar to Steele County
Head to head

Compare Steele County to nearby counties

STEELE COUNTY VS
Dodge County
Income$95,739+14%
Home value$287,700+17%
Population21,376−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE COUNTY VS
Waseca County
Income$76,261−9%
Home value$220,800−10%
Population18,688−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE COUNTY VS
Rice County
Income$83,181−1%
Home value$320,200+30%
Population69,939+87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE COUNTY VS
Freeborn County
Income$71,023−16%
Home value$171,100−30%
Population30,440−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Steele County, Minnesota?

Steele County, Minnesota has about 37,439 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Steele County, Minnesota earns about $84,196 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Steele County, Minnesota expensive?

In Steele County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $245,400, and the typical rent is about $1,061 a month.

How educated are people in Steele County, Minnesota?

About 28.0% of adults age 25 and over in Steele County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Steele County, Minnesota?

About 8.3% of people in Steele County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Steele County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Steele County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,710 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9605
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 55060ZIP 55917ZIP 55049ZIP 56026ZIP 56046
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →