McLeod County, Minnesota Demographics 2026
McLeod County, Minnesota has a population of 36,798, the 29th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $80,084 and the median home value is $246,100. The poverty rate is 8.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
McLeod County Quick Facts
How McLeod 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 | 36,771 | 36,798 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $78,468 | $80,084 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $233,400 | $246,100 | +5.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 McLeod County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson | 14,680 | $72,836 | 12.4% | $229,600 |
| Glencoe | 5,695 | $71,356 | 9.2% | $227,900 |
| Winsted | 2,181 | $67,200 | 11.3% | $201,900 |
| Lester Prairie | 1,898 | $96,544 | 3.0% | $237,400 |
| Silver Lake | 815 | $74,432 | 3.3% | $202,600 |
| Stewart | 644 | $65,982 | 6.7% | $125,400 |
| Brownton | 546 | $79,712 | 10.7% | $162,500 |
| Plato | 242 | $91,250 | 0.0% | $239,700 |
| Biscay | 138 | $138,750 | 0.0% | $188,900 |
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Population Overview
McLeod County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 36,798. It is the 29th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in McLeod County is 41.6 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in McLeod County is $80,084. This is 10% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $246,100. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 77.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
McLeod County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.
Education
20.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 93.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for McLeod 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 McLeod County, Minnesota?
McLeod County has a population of 36,798, making it the 29th most populous county in Minnesota.
What is the median income in McLeod County?
The median household income in McLeod County is $80,084 with a poverty rate of 8.7%.
How many cities are in McLeod County, Minnesota?
McLeod County contains 9 Census-designated places.