Population 36,798 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McLeod County
Household size in McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in McLeod 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. Household size has dropped from 2.52 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of McLeod County is 42.5 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in McLeod County (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points, 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 McLeod County
Renters in McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
McLeod County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (40.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.4 points, 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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.5% of homes in McLeod County are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Minnesota's 87 counties, only seven have a lower vacancy rate.
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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in McLeod County was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the south 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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $668 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $701 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $789 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $947 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$279 | +$522 | +$606 |
A typical rental in McLeod County costs $947 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $279 a month since 2006–10, up 42%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest 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 McLeod County
Bachelor's degrees in McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in McLeod County: 20.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in McLeod County is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 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 McLeod County
| Period | McLeod County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in McLeod County runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 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).
McLeod 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLeod County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 9.2% | 22.6% | 5.5% | 1978 | $947 | 20.1% | 93.6% | 3.4% |
| Carver County | 2.72 | 39.9 | 9.4% | 18.5% | 3.5% | 1996 | $1,620 | 50.9% | 96.9% | 3.0% |
| Renville County | 2.35 | 43.8 | 9.4% | 19.8% | 12.3% | 1959 | $799 | 18.2% | 91.7% | 2.5% |
| Scott County | 2.87 | 38.8 | 10.0% | 16.2% | 4.3% | 1994 | $1,736 | 44.4% | 94.5% | 3.5% |
| Hennepin County | 2.43 | 39.3 | 9.4% | 37.3% | 6.7% | 1972 | $1,684 | 53.6% | 93.7% | 4.6% |
| Dakota County | 2.63 | 39.7 | 9.7% | 25.1% | 3.7% | 1988 | $1,653 | 45.4% | 95.0% | 3.6% |
| Ramsey County | 2.50 | 37.3 | 11.7% | 39.4% | 6.6% | 1963 | $1,455 | 45.3% | 91.0% | 4.9% |
| Washington County | 2.66 | 40.9 | 8.3% | 18.7% | 4.4% | 1991 | $1,894 | 50.1% | 96.1% | 3.1% |
| Chippewa County | 2.36 | 41.1 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 10.3% | 1958 | $882 | 19.4% | 91.6% | 4.2% |
| Yellow Medicine County | 2.27 | 43.4 | 8.9% | 16.0% | 9.8% | 1956 | $787 | 19.8% | 93.0% | 3.6% |
| Pierce County | 2.54 | 39.4 | 7.5% | 25.0% | 7.4% | 1979 | $1,106 | 33.2% | 96.6% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Logan County, IL · Pine County, MN · Pike County, OH · Pike County, MS · Pike County, AL · Pierce County, WI · Pickens County, GA · Phelps County, MO · Pettis County, MO · Petersburg City, VA
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 McLeod 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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