Steele County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Steele County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 37,413. It is the 28th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Steele County is 40.2 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Steele County is $83,448. This is 5% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $234,200. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $305,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Steele County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Steele County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

29.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.7%.