Population 25,800 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Brown County
Household size in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Brown County is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Brown County has smaller households than the great majority of Minnesota counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Brown County is 43.2 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.2, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Brown County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Minnesota counties, Brown County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brown County
Renters in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Brown County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among owners, 46.3% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Brown County than nationally: 7.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Brown County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $529 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $654 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $686 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $885 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$356 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Brown County pays $885 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $356 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brown County
Bachelor's degrees in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a quarter of adults 25 and older in Brown County (25.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Brown County have finished high school (92.9%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brown County
| Period | Brown County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brown County has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brown County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County | 2.26 | 43.2 | 7.9% | 21.1% | 7.7% | 1961 | $885 | 25.7% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
| Nicollet County | 2.42 | 38.5 | 9.1% | 27.8% | 6.0% | 1981 | $1,052 | 36.8% | 95.1% | 2.1% |
| Blue Earth County | 2.43 | 34.1 | 10.6% | 38.6% | 7.3% | 1979 | $1,229 | 34.3% | 94.9% | 5.0% |
| Le Sueur County | 2.50 | 42.1 | 7.7% | 19.0% | 10.3% | 1974 | $1,047 | 26.3% | 94.4% | 4.1% |
| Rice County | 2.55 | 39.3 | 9.7% | 23.7% | 7.6% | 1975 | $1,181 | 32.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
| Lincoln County | 2.23 | 46.1 | 7.0% | 18.6% | 19.1% | 1960 | $695 | 25.7% | 94.4% | 2.6% |
| Brookings County | 2.39 | 32.2 | 5.0% | 42.8% | 9.7% | 1985 | $1,019 | 41.5% | 97.3% | 3.4% |
| Wabasha County | 2.35 | 44.9 | 6.0% | 16.7% | 10.8% | 1975 | $887 | 26.9% | 94.9% | 2.2% |
| Kingsbury County | 2.54 | 42.4 | 6.0% | 17.9% | 18.0% | 1963 | $687 | 22.6% | 92.1% | 1.0% |
| Buffalo County | 2.33 | 46.8 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 1967 | $945 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 2.9% |
| Trempealeau County | 2.48 | 39.7 | 8.5% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1977 | $951 | 20.6% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Poinsett County, AR · Colusa County, CA · Putnam County, OH · Cook County, GA · Cooper County, MO · Coos County, NH · Copiah County, MS · Potter County, PA · Posey County, IN · Polk County, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brown County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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