Population 11,458 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cottonwood County
Household size in Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Cottonwood County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.36, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.7, the median age in Cottonwood County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 43.5, even as the national median rose.
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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.3% of households in Cottonwood County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Cottonwood County
Renters in Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.6% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Cottonwood County rent their homes (25.6%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than half of owners (53.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the north. The renter share has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Cottonwood County is close to the national rate: 10.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Minnesota as a whole (8.3%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.6 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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Cottonwood County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $540 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $591 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $639 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $822 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$522 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cottonwood County costs $822 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $282 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 20.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Cottonwood County
Bachelor's degrees in Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cottonwood County: 23.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.6% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Cottonwood County is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Cottonwood County
| Period | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Cottonwood County has been strong: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Cottonwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood County | 2.42 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 25.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $822 | 23.5% | 94.1% | 2.7% |
| Watonwan County | 2.66 | 40.2 | 11.5% | 22.2% | 14.3% | 1961 | $831 | 17.3% | 86.2% | 5.6% |
| Murray County | 2.22 | 46.1 | 6.5% | 17.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $832 | 23.5% | 91.7% | 2.6% |
| Pipestone County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 19.2% | 8.7% | 1955 | $775 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
| Moody County | 2.50 | 41.1 | 9.8% | 26.5% | 6.8% | 1971 | $864 | 31.6% | 95.3% | 2.6% |
| Waseca County | 2.42 | 40.7 | 11.3% | 19.3% | 6.0% | 1966 | $941 | 20.6% | 93.5% | 2.7% |
| Steele County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 20.6% | 5.8% | 1974 | $1,181 | 27.4% | 93.4% | 3.7% |
| Lake County | 2.25 | 45.0 | 7.5% | 26.2% | 16.3% | 1970 | $945 | 35.3% | 93.5% | 3.1% |
| Dodge County | 2.60 | 38.9 | 10.4% | 13.4% | 5.1% | 1980 | $1,127 | 30.6% | 95.5% | 3.3% |
| Miner County | 2.42 | 48.1 | 6.9% | 15.2% | 16.9% | 1954 | $638 | 16.4% | 94.9% | 0.2% |
| Olmsted County | 2.52 | 38.8 | 9.0% | 29.4% | 6.7% | 1987 | $1,440 | 49.1% | 94.9% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Haines Borough, AK · Perry County, TN · Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK · Holt County, MO · Highland County, VA · Hickman County, KY · Henry County, IA · Henderson County, IL · Haywood County, TN · Hart County, KY
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 Cottonwood 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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