Income and Poverty in the State of Minnesota

The median household income has declined from the inflation-adjusted 2000 income levels. The income level has decreased to $52,024, representing a 5.6 percent decline. The State of Minnesota ranks 25 of 46 states when analyzing the decline in median household income in the United States.

In the State of Minnesota, White householders had a median household income (in 2005 Dollars) of $56,497 as reported in 2000 by the census, which was 2.5 percent greater than the median income in 2000. The Asian headed households reported median household incomes of $53,258. This median is 3.4 percent less than the reported median household income for all households in the state. Black or African American householders reported a median household income that was 38.6 percent less than the overall median reported in 2000, with a reported median of $33,843. Hispanic Householders in Minnesotareported a median household income of $42,042, which is 23.7 percent less than reported value of the areas total household median income for all households. The American Indian and Alaska Native households in Minnesota had a median income of $33,384, this median was 39.4 percent less than the median level for total households in the area.

Evaluated with other States across the nation, the State of Minnesota can be understood to have a very low poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 7.9 percent of people living in a family with an income below the poverty level in 1999. The American Indian and Alaska Native race/ethnicity demographic category, owns the foremost rate of poverty with 28.6 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged 75 years and over have the most percent of people living in poverty in Minnesota, reporting 10.9 percent of this age group in the area living in poverty.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Minnesota range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 17.6 percent in Beltrami County to a low of 2.9 percent in Washington County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Minnesota
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. Beltrami County (17.6 percent)
2. Mahnomen County (16.7 )
3. Clearwater County (15.1 percent)
4. Wadena County (14.1 percent)
5. Stevens County (13.6 percent)
6. Cass County (13.6 percent)
7. Clay County (13.2 percent)
8. Blue Earth County (12.9 percent)
9. Todd County (12.9 percent)
10. Becker County (12.2 percent)


Compared to States across the United States, the State of Minnesota had a relatively high median income for all households of $55,120 (2005 Dollars). The income level is 10.9 percent higher than the median household income in the United States of $49,133.

The poverty rate in the State of Minnesota has increased by 1.3 percent from the levels reported in the Decennial Census of 2000, moving from 7.9 percent to 9.2 percent.

As the median household income witnessed a decline since 2000 in the State of Minnesota, the Race/Ethnicity category that felt the biggest decline in median household income was the Black or African American Race/Ethnicity category. This category went through a decline of 40.1 percent from 2000 to 2005. The White Race/Ethnicity group has been least impacted by the median income decline in Minnesota, encountering a 58.9 percent increase in household income, since the reported levels in 2000.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Minnesota range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $77,936 in Scott County to a low of $35,162 in Mahnomen County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Minnesota
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. Scott County ($77,936)
2. Washington County ($77,577 )
3. Carver County ($76,682)
4. Dakota County ($72,380)
5. Anoka County ($67,572)
6. Sherburne County ($66,706)
7. Wright County ($63,116)
8. Chisago County ($60,854)
9. Hennepin County ($60,502)
10. Olmsted County ($60,040)


Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.