Blue Earth County, MN

County

Add Comparison

2024 Population

69,871

US Senator

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic(DFL) Party

US Senator

Tina Smith

Democratic(DFL) Party

2024 Median Age

31.6

0.317% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

15.7%

3.73% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$74,477

2.55% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$266,700

5.5% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

38,013

0.131% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Blue Earth County, MN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.7% of the residents in Blue Earth County, MN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Blue Earth County, MN are Minnesota State University-Mankato (3,842 degrees awarded in 2023) and Bethany Lutheran College (144 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Blue Earth County, MN was $266,700, and the homeownership rate was 61.4%.

Most people in Blue Earth County, MN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 16.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Blue Earth County, MN was 2 cars per household.

Blue Earth County, MN borders Brown County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Martin County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Waseca County, MN, and Watonwan County, MN.

United States Minnesota Mankato-North Mankato, MN

Population & Diversity

Blue Earth County, MN is home to a population of 69.9k people, from which 97.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 5.19% of Blue Earth County, MN residents were born outside of the country (3.62k people).

In 2024, there were 17.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (59k people) in Blue Earth County, MN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.34k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.04k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.7%

2024 Citizenship

96.7%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.7% of Blue Earth County, MN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Blue Earth County, MN was 96.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Blue Earth County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Blue Earth County, MN

White (Non-Hispanic)
59k ± 135
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
3.34k ± 366
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.04k ± 423

4.82%

Hispanic Population

3.37k people

4.82% of the people in Blue Earth County, MN are hispanic (3.37k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Blue Earth County, MN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Minnesota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
58,764 ± 5,921 people
Somalia
36,253 ± 4,660 people
India
31,836 ± 4,368 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Minnesota was Mexico, the natal country of 58,764 Minnesota residents, followed by Somalia with 36,253 and India with 31,836.

Foreign-Born Population

5.19%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

3.62k people

5.65%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

3.92k people

As of 2024, 5.19% of Blue Earth County, MN residents (3.62k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Blue Earth County, MN was 5.65%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Blue Earth County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
955 ± 170
Gulf War (2001-)
621 ± 180
Gulf War (1990s)
262 ± 77

Blue Earth County, MN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.54 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Blue Earth County, MN.

Economy

The economy of Blue Earth County, MN employs 38k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Blue Earth County, MN were Health Care & Social Assistance (7,546 people), Manufacturing (5,590 people), and Retail Trade (5,224 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($74,382), Public Administration ($70,625), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($66,603).

Employment

Occupations

38k

2024 Value

± 1,362

−0.131%

1 Year decline

± 4.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Blue Earth County, MN declined at a rate of −0.131%, from 38.1k employees to 38k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Blue Earth County, MN, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,551 people), Management Occupations (3,503 people), and Production Occupations (3,343 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Blue Earth County, MN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Minnesota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

38k

2024 Value

± 1,362

−0.131%

1 Year decline

± 4.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Blue Earth County, MN declined at a rate of −0.131%, from 38.1k employees to 38k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Blue Earth County, MN, are Health Care & Social Assistance (7,546 people), Manufacturing (5,590 people), and Retail Trade (5,224 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Blue Earth County, MN, though some of these residents may live in Blue Earth County, MN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$48,641

Median earning men ± $1,624

$35,327

Median earning women ± $2,234

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($72,604), Wholesale Trade ($67,961), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($66,719).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($71,600), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($55,399), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($54,867).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Y-Axis

2.26%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.93M people employed in Minnesota. This represents a 2.26% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Minnesota.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

141
Construction
103
Other Services (except Public Administration)
93
Health Care and Social Assistance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$415k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$280k
Manufacturing
$187k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing the state of Minnesota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Minnesota is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Blue Earth County, MN. Showing the available data for Minnesota.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (50.9%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.7%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (0.738%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Minnesota for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Minnesota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Amy Klobuchar

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2007
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) is the Minnesota affiliate of the U.S. Democratic Party and its members are counted as Democrats.

Tina Smith

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2018
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Al Franken.

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing Minnesota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Minnesota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Blue Earth County, MN awarded 3,986 degrees. The student population of Blue Earth County, MN in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 6,652 male students and 8,959 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Blue Earth County, MN are White (2,924 and 80.4%), Black or African American (222 and 6.11%), Hispanic or Latino (194 and 5.34%), and Asian (138 and 3.8%).

The largest universities in Blue Earth County, MN by number of degrees awarded are Minnesota State University-Mankato (3,842 and 96.4%) and Bethany Lutheran College (144 and 3.61%).

The most popular majors in Blue Earth County, MN are Registered Nursing (356 and 8.93%), General Business Administration & Management (236 and 5.92%), and General Psychology (166 and 4.16%).

The median tuition costs in Blue Earth County, MN are $29,280 for private four year colleges, and $8,356 and $17,726 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Blue Earth County, MN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 87.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 30%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 15,611 (42.6% men and 57.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 15,611 students enrolled in Blue Earth County, MN, 42.6% men and 57.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 11,121 records, of which 59.3% were women and 40.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
200 degrees awarded
General Psychology
164 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
356 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Blue Earth County, MN was General Business Administration & Management with 200 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Blue Earth County, MN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Minnesota State University-Mankato
3,842 degrees awarded
Bethany Lutheran College
144 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Minnesota State University-Mankato with 3,842 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 1,614 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Blue Earth County, MN, which is 0.68 times less than the 2,372 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,924 degrees mean that there were 13.2 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 222 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($29,280) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,134) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,042) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Blue Earth County, MN was $266,700 in 2024, which is 0.802 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $252,800 to $266,700, a 5.5% increase. The homeownership rate in Blue Earth County, MN is 61.4%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Blue Earth County, MN have an average commute time of 16.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Blue Earth County, MN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 15.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Blue Earth County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.45%.

Housing

Property

$266,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,335

$16,939

Median Property Taxes

±$708

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Blue Earth County, MN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Blue Earth County, MN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

61.4%

Homeownership

2024

64.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 61.4% of the housing units in Blue Earth County, MN were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 61.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Blue Earth County, MN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$74,477

Median Household Income

± $2,447

27.6k

Number of Households

± 1,120

In 2024, the median household income of the 27.6k households in Blue Earth County, MN grew to $74,477 from the previous year's value of $72,623.

The following chart displays the households in Blue Earth County, MN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Blue Earth County, MN is from Minnesota.

0.454

2023 Wage GINI in Minnesota

0.458

2022 Wage GINI in Minnesota

In 2023, the income inequality in Minnesota was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.78% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Minnesota was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Minnesota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Minnesota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (75.5%)
Carpooled (10.6%)
Worked At Home (8.47%)

In 2024, 75.5% of workers in Blue Earth County, MN drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.6%) and those who worked at home (8.47%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

16.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Blue Earth County, MN have a shorter commute time (16.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.2% of the workforce in Blue Earth County, MN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Blue Earth County, MN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Blue Earth County, MN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Blue Earth County, MN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 15.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Blue Earth County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.45%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Blue Earth County, MN (10.4k out of 66.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Blue Earth County, MN is White, followed by Two Or More and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 10.6% of the children was living in poverty in Blue Earth County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 200 in Blue Earth County, MN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 30 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.7% of the population of Blue Earth County, MN has health coverage, with 56% on employee plans, 12.6% on Medicaid, 11.8% on Medicare, 14.2% on non-group plans, and 1.09% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Blue Earth County, MN see 1,082 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,082 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1071 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 197 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.8% were men and 49.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,082 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Blue Earth County, MN

Primary care physicians in Blue Earth County, MN see an average of 1,082 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,082 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Blue Earth County, MN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.8% under 18 years, 31.7% between 18 and 34 years, 30.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.8% were men and 49.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.28%

Uninsured

56%

Employer Coverage

12.6%

Medicaid

11.8%

Medicare

14.2%

Non-Group

1.09%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Blue Earth County, MN declined by 6.26% from 4.57% to 4.28%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Blue Earth County, MN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 37.5 in Blue Earth County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Blue Earth County, MN.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 42.1% in Blue Earth County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Blue Earth County, MN.