Freeborn County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Name: Freeborn County, Minnesota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Freeborn County, Minnesota has a population of 30,623, the 36th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $71,023 and the median home value is $171,100. The poverty rate is 10.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Freeborn County Quick Facts

Population 30,623

Median Household Income $71,023

Median Home Value $171,100

Poverty Rate 10.6%

Unemployment Rate 4.6%

Median Age 44.3 years

Homeownership Rate 79.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.2%

High School Graduation 91.4%

Cities/Places 14

Population 30,623 36th of 87

Median Income $71,023 20% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.6%

Unemployment 4.6%

How Freeborn County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	30,752	30,623	-0.4%
Median household income	$69,012	$71,023	+2.9%
Median home value	$164,900	$171,100	+3.8%

Median Household Income

Freeborn

$71,023

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Freeborn

$171,100

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.5%

$25K-$50K 20.6%

$50K-$100K 32.2%

$100K+ 32.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.6%

$10K-$15K

2.7%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

3.9%

$25K-$30K

4.9%

$30K-$35K

4.3%

$35K-$40K

3.9%

$40K-$45K

3.9%

$45K-$50K

3.6%

$50K-$60K

6.9%

$60K-$75K

12.0%

$75K-$100K

13.4%

$100K-$125K

11.2%

$125K-$150K

7.8%

$150K-$200K

7.1%

$200K+

6.6%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

61.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.5%

Renter 20.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $849/mo 14.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.8%

18-34

17.6%

35-54

22.8%

55-74

27.2%

75+

10.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Freeborn County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Albert Lea	18,330	$64,603	12.8%	$157,500
Clarks Grove	636	$73,750	13.5%	$123,400
Alden	629	$73,250	4.5%	$128,400
Glenville	572	$56,563	9.0%	$123,300
Hartland	422	$86,250	6.4%	$166,900
Geneva	387	$61,500	10.3%	$182,500
Emmons	363	$57,969	20.1%	$106,700
Freeborn	348	$50,000	30.1%	$88,800
Hollandale	340	$64,375	13.3%	$151,500
Hayward	231	$61,250	12.6%	$114,000
Twin Lakes	158	$55,089	21.5%	N/A
Conger	99	$66,250	6.1%	$120,000
Manchester	32	$68,750	21.9%	$118,800
Myrtle	31	$56,250	0.0%	N/A

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Freeborn County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 30,623. It is the 36th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Freeborn County is 44.3 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Freeborn County is $71,023. This is 20% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $171,100. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Freeborn County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Freeborn County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.8%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.8% vs 6.4%).

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Freeborn County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Minnesota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Freeborn County, Minnesota?

Freeborn County has a population of 30,623, making it the 36th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Freeborn County?

The median household income in Freeborn County is $71,023 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.

How many cities are in Freeborn County, Minnesota?

Freeborn County contains 14 Census-designated places.