Population 22,041 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nobles County
Household size in Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Nobles County average 2.80 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Household size has climbed from 2.62 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of Minnesota's 87 counties, only three have larger households.
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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.8 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Nobles County is 36.8 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has edged down from 37.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of Minnesota's 87 counties, only four are younger.
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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Nobles County (15.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only one other Minnesota county has a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Nobles County
Renters in Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.2% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Nobles County own their homes; 25.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. More than half of owners (54.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.0 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Nobles County as nationally: 9.1%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.3 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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Nobles County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, 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 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $562 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $635 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $714 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $910 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$348 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Nobles County runs $910 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $348 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 24.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Nobles County
Bachelor's degrees in Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Nobles County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Minnesota counties have a lower share of college graduates: only three 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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.0% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.2% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 75.0% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.4% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Nobles County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other Minnesota county has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Nobles County
| Period | Nobles County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Nobles County has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Nobles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nobles County | 2.80 | 36.8 | 15.1% | 25.8% | 9.1% | 1966 | $910 | 16.7% | 79.4% | 3.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.27 | 45.5 | 7.8% | 19.9% | 10.6% | 1959 | $842 | 26.4% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| 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% |
| Martin County | 2.24 | 43.7 | 10.0% | 31.1% | 9.1% | 1959 | $864 | 23.6% | 95.1% | 4.1% |
| McCook County | 2.51 | 39.4 | 6.4% | 20.5% | 11.5% | 1968 | $1,021 | 30.3% | 94.5% | 1.9% |
| Faribault County | 2.27 | 44.6 | 10.3% | 20.8% | 12.3% | 1951 | $845 | 21.8% | 91.6% | 3.4% |
| Hanson County | 3.02 | 37.8 | 4.2% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 1959 | $848 | 22.7% | 93.3% | 1.8% |
| Freeborn County | 2.40 | 45.2 | 12.0% | 20.5% | 9.7% | 1958 | $938 | 17.6% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Davison County | 2.22 | 41.7 | 10.0% | 38.5% | 9.2% | 1971 | $836 | 22.3% | 91.0% | 0.9% |
| Mower County | 2.59 | 39.3 | 11.4% | 22.4% | 7.5% | 1959 | $953 | 22.3% | 85.4% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Breckinridge County, KY · Bosque County, TX · Bourbon County, KS · Bourbon County, KY · Boyle County, KY · Bradford County, FL · Brantley County, GA · Braxton County, WV · Breathitt County, KY · Boone County, WV
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 Nobles 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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