Population 30,623 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Freeborn County
Household size in Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Freeborn County are small: just 2.40 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.32, even as the national average fell.
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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.2 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Freeborn County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.3, as it has nationally.
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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Freeborn County as they are nationally: 12.0%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Minnesota overall (9.6%). The single-parent share has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as 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 Freeborn County
Renters in Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Freeborn County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 46.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Freeborn County is close to the national rate: 9.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, 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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Freeborn County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1958, 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 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast. Only six of Minnesota's 87 counties have older homes.
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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $588 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $646 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $736 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $938 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$350 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Freeborn County runs $938 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $350 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the center.
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 Freeborn County
Bachelor's degrees in Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Freeborn County: 17.6% 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 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Minnesota counties have a lower share of college graduates: only seven of 87.
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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.6% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.9% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Freeborn County is a bit above the national rate: 90.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in Minnesota overall (93.7%). The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Freeborn County
| Period | Freeborn County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Freeborn County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Freeborn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeborn County | 2.40 | 45.2 | 12.0% | 20.5% | 9.7% | 1958 | $938 | 17.6% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Mower County | 2.59 | 39.3 | 11.4% | 22.4% | 7.5% | 1959 | $953 | 22.3% | 85.4% | 3.6% |
| Faribault County | 2.27 | 44.6 | 10.3% | 20.8% | 12.3% | 1951 | $845 | 21.8% | 91.6% | 3.4% |
| Martin County | 2.24 | 43.7 | 10.0% | 31.1% | 9.1% | 1959 | $864 | 23.6% | 95.1% | 4.1% |
| Fillmore County | 2.44 | 43.5 | 6.6% | 17.4% | 9.8% | 1966 | $846 | 24.1% | 93.2% | 2.7% |
| Jackson County | 2.27 | 45.5 | 7.8% | 19.9% | 10.6% | 1959 | $842 | 26.4% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| Houston County | 2.28 | 45.7 | 7.6% | 16.6% | 7.4% | 1969 | $868 | 30.2% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Nobles County | 2.80 | 36.8 | 15.1% | 25.8% | 9.1% | 1966 | $910 | 16.7% | 79.4% | 3.2% |
| Vernon County | 2.55 | 41.2 | 6.4% | 19.7% | 11.7% | 1975 | $844 | 24.6% | 89.3% | 2.3% |
| Rock County | 2.35 | 41.8 | 6.9% | 23.4% | 5.8% | 1959 | $839 | 26.5% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| Minnehaha County | 2.40 | 37.0 | 11.2% | 36.9% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,068 | 35.5% | 92.7% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Amador County, CA · Wyoming County, NY · Murray County, GA · Mississippi County, AR · Nicholas County, WV · Nodaway County, MO · Obion County, TN · Oceana County, MI · Ohio County, KY · Okeechobee County, FL
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 Freeborn 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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