Population 16,390 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kanabec County
Household size in Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Kanabec County run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has edged down from 2.56 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Kanabec County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Kanabec County than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota. The single-parent share is up 1.0 points from 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 Kanabec County
Renters in Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.5% of households in Kanabec County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About four in ten owners (40.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.5 points, even as the national share rose. Only four of Minnesota's 87 counties have a lower share of renters.
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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.8% of the housing in Kanabec County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Kanabec County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Minnesota as a whole, where the median home dates to 1978. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southeast 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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $803 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $901 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $939 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,040 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$237 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Kanabec County pays $1,040 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $237 a month from 2006–10, a 30% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.1% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 south; 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 Kanabec County
Bachelor's degrees in Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Kanabec County: 15.8% 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 1.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Kanabec County has the lowest share of college graduates of any Minnesota county.
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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.2% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.1% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.2% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.7% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Kanabec County have finished high school as nationally: 90.7%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Minnesota as a whole (93.7%). The share with a diploma has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, 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 Kanabec County
| Period | Kanabec County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Kanabec County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.2 points, 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).
Kanabec 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanabec County | 2.47 | 45.7 | 9.8% | 15.5% | 14.8% | 1982 | $1,040 | 15.8% | 90.7% | 4.6% |
| Mille Lacs County | 2.55 | 42.2 | 11.4% | 22.1% | 14.5% | 1985 | $1,158 | 18.3% | 91.9% | 4.4% |
| Pine County | 2.31 | 47.0 | 9.0% | 18.4% | 23.7% | 1983 | $1,078 | 17.4% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
| Isanti County | 2.62 | 40.8 | 10.4% | 16.3% | 6.3% | 1988 | $1,339 | 20.6% | 93.2% | 3.7% |
| Chisago County | 2.66 | 41.7 | 8.8% | 14.1% | 7.3% | 1990 | $1,252 | 24.8% | 96.0% | 4.3% |
| Sherburne County | 2.85 | 37.8 | 10.5% | 16.8% | 6.3% | 1995 | $1,370 | 30.5% | 94.7% | 3.0% |
| Benton County | 2.49 | 37.0 | 12.2% | 33.3% | 5.9% | 1987 | $1,176 | 26.8% | 92.8% | 4.0% |
| Burnett County | 2.37 | 54.9 | 5.4% | 14.1% | 48.1% | 1982 | $833 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 4.5% |
| Morrison County | 2.41 | 43.8 | 9.3% | 19.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $871 | 19.2% | 92.9% | 4.1% |
| Polk County | 2.32 | 46.4 | 8.5% | 19.0% | 17.0% | 1982 | $997 | 24.3% | 94.0% | 3.4% |
| Stearns County | 2.53 | 37.2 | 8.9% | 32.1% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,133 | 29.1% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Brown County, IL · Braxton County, WV · Breathitt County, KY · Breckinridge County, KY · Bremer County, IA · Brewster County, TX · Bristol City, VA · Broadwater County, MT · Yankton County, SD · Brooks County, GA
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 Kanabec 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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