Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Among the top 4% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 10% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 84% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 26% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 96% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 75% of US counties
- top 9% for commute time
- top 16% for comfortable days
- bottom 6% for estimated total tax burden
Blue Earth County is a county in Minnesota with about 69,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include commute time, comfortable days, and broadband access. It rates lower on income tax and estimated total tax burden.
- The median home value in Blue Earth County is $239k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Blue Earth County is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Blue Earth County is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Blue Earth County has a violent crime rate of 1334/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Blue Earth County is 17 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
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72%50%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.0 in
humid 89%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$50kbetter than 23% of US counties
Home Value$239k78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 23% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$17kbetter than 28% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.99%better than 40% of US counties
Income Tax9.90%better than 6% of US counties
Sales Tax8.04%better than 38% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden15.89%better than 6% of US counties
Unemployment3.7%better than 70% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)15°F5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.7 in30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall39.2 inbetter than 21% of US counties
Sunny Days253 daysbetter than 68% of US counties
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 66% of US counties
Comfortable Days93 daysbetter than 84% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk72.2better than 27% of US counties
School Quality72.4better than 77% of US counties
Violent Crime1334/100kbetter than 20% of US counties
Property Crime1854/100kbetter than 17% of US counties
Community
Population69,02275th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age31.43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2243rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0268th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven15th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)86.1%61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.6%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.1%44th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.5%87th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.6%30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time17 minbetter than 91% of US counties
Walkability7.2/20better than 79% of US counties
Airport Distance71 mibetter than 67% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.7%better than 82% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.87better than 35% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 78% of US counties
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Blue Earth County an affordable place to live?
- Blue Earth County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $50k, better than 23% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Blue Earth County safe?
- Blue Earth County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1334/100k (better than 20%). Property crime is 1854/100k.
- What is the weather like in Blue Earth County?
- Blue Earth County averages 73°F in July and 15°F in January, with 33.7 in of annual precipitation and about 253 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Blue Earth County?
- Public-school quality in Blue Earth County is above average, scoring better than 77% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Blue Earth County?
- The average one-way commute in Blue Earth County is 17 min.