Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Minnesota

Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Mahnomen County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 87 counties in 2021, at 21.1%. Carver County had the lowest, at 3.8%. The median was 10% and the figure for Minnesota was 9.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest21.1Mahnomen County
Lowest3.8Carver County
Median1087 counties
Minnesota9.2History

Map of counties, 2021

Aitkin County: 11.6 %Anoka County: 5.9 %Becker County: 10.9 %Beltrami County: 16.8 %Benton County: 9.5 %Big Stone County: 12.7 %Blue Earth County: 16.3 %Brown County: 8 %Carlton County: 11.8 %Carver County: 3.8 %Cass County: 12.5 %Chippewa County: 11.3 %Chisago County: 6.6 %Clay County: 14.1 %Clearwater County: 12.9 %Cook County: 9.1 %Cottonwood County: 11.4 %Crow Wing County: 10.2 %Dakota County: 5.5 %Dodge County: 4.9 %Douglas County: 8.2 %Faribault County: 11.6 %Fillmore County: 9.2 %Freeborn County: 10.5 %Goodhue County: 8.7 %Grant County: 7.9 %Hennepin County: 9.9 %Houston County: 7 %Hubbard County: 11 %Isanti County: 8.8 %Itasca County: 11.1 %Jackson County: 9.6 %Kanabec County: 9.7 %Kandiyohi County: 11 %Kittson County: 10.2 %Koochiching County: 11.4 %Lac qui Parle County: 9.1 %Lake County: 7.7 %Lake of the Woods County: 12.6 %Le Sueur County: 7.9 %Lincoln County: 9.6 %Lyon County: 12.3 %McLeod County: 7.3 %Mahnomen County: 21.1 %Marshall County: 7.5 %Martin County: 11.7 %Meeker County: 7.7 %Mille Lacs County: 11 %Morrison County: 10 %Mower County: 12.7 %Murray County: 6.3 %Nicollet County: 9.4 %Nobles County: 11.8 %Norman County: 10.3 %Olmsted County: 7.6 %Otter Tail County: 8.9 %Pennington County: 10.3 %Pine County: 10.6 %Pipestone County: 11.5 %Polk County: 11.9 %Pope County: 8 %Ramsey County: 13.2 %Red Lake County: 10.1 %Redwood County: 9.9 %Renville County: 9.7 %Rice County: 10.2 %Rock County: 9.2 %Roseau County: 8.4 %St. Louis County: 13.6 %Scott County: 4.6 %Sherburne County: 5 %Sibley County: 8 %Stearns County: 12.8 %Steele County: 8.6 %Stevens County: 13.6 %Swift County: 12.2 %Todd County: 13.7 %Traverse County: 8.2 %Wabasha County: 7.1 %Wadena County: 13.6 %Waseca County: 8.1 %Washington County: 4.2 %Watonwan County: 13 %Wilkin County: 13.5 %Winona County: 13.4 %Wright County: 4.9 %Yellow Medicine County: 9.9 %
  • Under 7.6
  • 7.6 to 8.8
  • 8.8 to 10
  • 10 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Mahnomen County: 21.1 %Mahnomen County21.1Beltrami County: 16.8 %Beltrami County16.8Blue Earth County: 16.3 %Blue Earth County16.3Clay County: 14.1 %Clay County14.1Todd County: 13.7 %Todd County13.7Stevens County: 13.6 %Stevens County13.6St. Louis County: 13.6 %St. Louis County13.6Wadena County: 13.6 %Wadena County13.6Wilkin County: 13.5 %Wilkin County13.5Winona County: 13.4 %Winona County13.4Ramsey County: 13.2 %Ramsey County13.2Watonwan County: 13 %Watonwan County13Clearwater County: 12.9 %Clearwater County12.9Stearns County: 12.8 %Stearns County12.8Mower County: 12.7 %Mower County12.7Big Stone County: 12.7 %Big Stone County12.7Lake of the Woods County: 12.6 %Lake of the Woods County12.6Cass County: 12.5 %Cass County12.5Lyon County: 12.3 %Lyon County12.3Swift County: 12.2 %Swift County12.2Polk County: 11.9 %Polk County11.9Carlton County: 11.8 %Carlton County11.8Nobles County: 11.8 %Nobles County11.8Martin County: 11.7 %Martin County11.7Aitkin County: 11.6 %Aitkin County11.6Faribault County: 11.6 %Faribault County11.6Pipestone County: 11.5 %Pipestone County11.5Cottonwood County: 11.4 %Cottonwood County11.4Koochiching County: 11.4 %Koochiching County11.4Chippewa County: 11.3 %Chippewa County11.3Itasca County: 11.1 %Itasca County11.1Mille Lacs County: 11 %Mille Lacs County11Kandiyohi County: 11 %Kandiyohi County11Hubbard County: 11 %Hubbard County11Becker County: 10.9 %Becker County10.9Pine County: 10.6 %Pine County10.6Freeborn County: 10.5 %Freeborn County10.5Norman County: 10.3 %Norman County10.3Pennington County: 10.3 %Pennington County10.3Rice County: 10.2 %Rice County10.2Mahnomen County: 21.1 %Mahnomen County21.1Beltrami County: 16.8 %Beltrami County16.8Blue Earth County: 16.3 %Blue Earth County16.3Clay County: 14.1 %Clay County14.1Todd County: 13.7 %Todd County13.7Stevens County: 13.6 %Stevens County13.6St. Louis County: 13.6 %St. Louis County13.6Wadena County: 13.6 %Wadena County13.6Wilkin County: 13.5 %Wilkin County13.5Winona County: 13.4 %Winona County13.4Ramsey County: 13.2 %Ramsey County13.2Watonwan County: 13 %Watonwan County13Clearwater County: 12.9 %Clearwater County12.9Stearns County: 12.8 %Stearns County12.8Mower County: 12.7 %Mower County12.7Big Stone County: 12.7 %Big Stone County12.7Lake of the Woods County: 12.6 %Lake of the Woods County12.6Cass County: 12.5 %Cass County12.5Lyon County: 12.3 %Lyon County12.3Swift County: 12.2 %Swift County12.2Polk County: 11.9 %Polk County11.9Carlton County: 11.8 %Carlton County11.8Nobles County: 11.8 %Nobles County11.8Martin County: 11.7 %Martin County11.7Aitkin County: 11.6 %Aitkin County11.6Faribault County: 11.6 %Faribault County11.6Pipestone County: 11.5 %Pipestone County11.5Cottonwood County: 11.4 %Cottonwood County11.4Koochiching County: 11.4 %Koochiching County11.4Chippewa County: 11.3 %Chippewa County11.3Itasca County: 11.1 %Itasca County11.1Mille Lacs County: 11 %Mille Lacs County11Kandiyohi County: 11 %Kandiyohi County11Hubbard County: 11 %Hubbard County11Becker County: 10.9 %Becker County10.9Pine County: 10.6 %Pine County10.6Freeborn County: 10.5 %Freeborn County10.5Norman County: 10.3 %Norman County10.3Pennington County: 10.3 %Pennington County10.3Rice County: 10.2 %Rice County10.2
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Mahnomen County21.1
2Beltrami County16.8
3Blue Earth County16.3
4Clay County14.1
5Todd County13.7
6Stevens County13.6
7St. Louis County13.6
7Wadena County13.6
9Wilkin County13.5
10Winona County13.4
11Ramsey County13.2
12Watonwan County13
13Clearwater County12.9
14Stearns County12.8
15Mower County12.7
16Big Stone County12.7
17Lake of the Woods County12.6
18Cass County12.5
19Lyon County12.3
20Swift County12.2
21Polk County11.9
22Carlton County11.8
23Nobles County11.8
24Martin County11.7
25Aitkin County11.6
26Faribault County11.6
27Pipestone County11.5
28Cottonwood County11.4
29Koochiching County11.4
30Chippewa County11.3
31Itasca County11.1
32Mille Lacs County11
33Kandiyohi County11
34Hubbard County11
35Becker County10.9
36Pine County10.6
37Freeborn County10.5
38Norman County10.3
39Pennington County10.3
40Rice County10.2
41Kittson County10.2
42Crow Wing County10.2
43Red Lake County10.1
44Morrison County10
45Yellow Medicine County9.9
46Hennepin County9.9
47Redwood County9.9
48Kanabec County9.7
48Renville County9.7
50Jackson County9.6
51Lincoln County9.6
52Benton County9.5
53Nicollet County9.4
54Rock County9.2
55Fillmore County9.2
56Cook County9.1
57Lac qui Parle County9.1
58Otter Tail County8.9
59Isanti County8.8
60Goodhue County8.7
61Steele County8.6
62Roseau County8.4
63Traverse County8.2
64Douglas County8.2
65Waseca County8.1
66Pope County8
67Brown County8
68Sibley County8
69Grant County7.9
70Le Sueur County7.9
71Meeker County7.7
72Lake County7.7
73Olmsted County7.6
74Marshall County7.5
75McLeod County7.3
76Wabasha County7.1
77Houston County7
78Chisago County6.6
79Murray County6.3
80Anoka County5.9
81Dakota County5.5
82Sherburne County5
83Wright County4.9
84Dodge County4.9
85Scott County4.6
86Washington County4.2
87Carver County3.8

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_minnesota_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Minnesota by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/minnesota-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Mahnomen County, with 21.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Carver County, with 3.8% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Minnesota: more rankings