Population 13,791 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pennington County
Household size in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Pennington County is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.38 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only six of Minnesota's 87 counties have smaller 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.6, the median age in Pennington County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in Minnesota overall, where the median age is 40.0. The median age has climbed from 39.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.6% of households in Pennington County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Pennington County
Renters in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.8% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Pennington County own their homes; 27.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Pennington County is the same as the national rate: 9.6% of homes are empty. 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Pennington County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1966 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $523 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $632 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $741 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $911 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$388 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pennington County pays $911 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $388 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 26.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the north.
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 Pennington County
Bachelor's degrees in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Pennington County: 20.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.3 points from 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pennington County: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pennington County has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.4 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).
Pennington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | 2.22 | 41.6 | 7.6% | 27.8% | 9.6% | 1972 | $911 | 20.9% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Red Lake County | 2.33 | 43.5 | 7.9% | 16.6% | 10.9% | 1969 | $543 | 18.7% | 95.2% | 1.1% |
| Marshall County | 2.33 | 43.8 | 8.4% | 17.0% | 13.8% | 1970 | $758 | 18.6% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Polk County | 2.41 | 39.9 | 8.0% | 28.7% | 14.0% | 1970 | $982 | 27.6% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Grand Forks County | 2.27 | 33.7 | 7.7% | 48.2% | 8.4% | 1982 | $1,085 | 39.3% | 96.0% | 2.2% |
| Walsh County | 2.32 | 42.7 | 9.4% | 24.0% | 13.8% | 1970 | $862 | 19.3% | 89.5% | 1.5% |
| Nelson County | 2.18 | 48.7 | 5.1% | 24.9% | 24.2% | 1962 | $696 | 29.9% | 92.7% | 1.0% |
| Ramsey County | 2.17 | 42.4 | 7.9% | 45.5% | 9.2% | 1976 | $761 | 25.3% | 92.9% | 1.2% |
| Koochiching County | 1.98 | 50.5 | 9.8% | 19.6% | 17.8% | 1970 | $650 | 22.3% | 94.7% | 4.6% |
| Eddy County | 1.95 | 48.0 | 6.3% | 28.0% | 12.0% | 1968 | $600 | 30.7% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Benson County | 3.04 | 32.7 | 23.8% | 26.9% | 19.4% | 1972 | $606 | 22.7% | 85.7% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Renville County, MN · Jefferson County, NE · Jefferson County, OK · Jefferson Davis County, MS · Jenkins County, GA · Jersey County, IL · Jim Hogg County, TX · Jo Daviess County, IL · Johnson County, KY · Red River County, TX
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 Pennington 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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