County · Minnesota

McLeod County, Minnesota

McLeod County, Minnesota. McLeod County had 36,631 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.4% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. It holds 23 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs and 14 towns and townships) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 27085.

McLeod County is the county of the Hutchinson, MN micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

36,631

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 36,771 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,798

Median household income

$80,084

±$3,795 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$246,100

±$6,149 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$941

±$58 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

How many people live in McLeod County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 36,771 residents in McLeod County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,631 for July 1, 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 36,798 over 492 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +70 (36,813)
2021→2022 −37 (36,776)
2022→2023 +85 (36,861)
2023→2024 −38 (36,823)
2024→2025 −192 (36,631)

McLeod County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	McLeod County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	36,798	5,739,445	+966
Households	15,215±230	2,307,955	+501
Average household size	2.37±0.04	2.43	no clear change
Housing units	15,972±71	2,545,030	no clear change

McLeod County's population since 2000

From 34,898 in 2000 to 36,631 in 2025: up 5.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 34,898
2005 (estimate) 36,250
2010 Census 36,651
2015 (estimate) 35,808
2020 Census 36,771
2025 (estimate) 36,631

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in McLeod County?

McLeod County holds 23 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 14 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Hutchinson with 14,655 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in McLeod County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hutchinson	city	14,599	14,680±26	$72,836	$229,600	12.4%	100%
Glencoe	city	5,744	5,695±16	$71,356	$227,900	9.2%	100%
Winsted	city	2,240	2,181±304	$67,200	$201,900	11.3%	100%
Lester Prairie	city	1,894	1,898±233	$96,544	$237,400	3.0%	100%
Hutchinson Township	township	1,215	1,111±196	$108,750	$403,200	6.0%	100%
Acoma Township	township	1,130	1,280±173	$126,250	$425,700	2.6%	100%
Winsted Township	township	936	893±133	$104,375	$428,600	5.6%	100%
Hale Township	township	917	802±129	$110,417	$302,300	2.2%	100%
Bergen Township	township	910	1,143±231	$106,125	$389,200	5.0%	100%
Silver Lake	city	866	815±214	$74,432	$202,600	3.3%	100%
Helen Township	township	833	950±191	$107,083	$396,900	6.5%	100%
Brownton	city	731	546±103	$79,712	$162,500	10.7%	100%
Rich Valley Township	township	669	579±93	$95,833	$305,500	2.0%	100%
Hassan Valley Township	township	643	715±233	$100,875	$319,300	2.4%	100%
Lynn Township	township	519	378±64	$102,500	$348,900	2.9%	100%
Glencoe Township	township	514	496±88	$115,682	$338,900	4.8%	100%
Stewart	city	489	644±141	$65,982	$125,400	6.7%	100%
Sumter Township	township	486	546±82	$101,250	$297,600	8.8%	100%
Collins Township	township	436	449±108	$113,542	$327,200	3.1%	100%
PlatoGEOID 2751460	city	329	242±64	$91,250	$239,700	0.0%	100%
Penn Township	township	322	309±61	$103,875	$295,500	3.6%	100%
Round Grove Township	township	236	308±81	$79,904	$265,000	1.0%	100%
BiscayGEOID 2706112	city	113	138±89	$138,750	$188,900	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in McLeod County?

The median resident of McLeod County is 41.6 years old; 21.9% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.6%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	McLeod County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.6±0.5	38.8	+0.9
Under 18 years	21.9%±0.1 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	20.1%±0.2 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.6%	6.4%	+1.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.2%±0.4 pts	75.9%	−2.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.1 pts	6.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.2 pts	5.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.5%±0.4 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	4.0%±1.0 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.4%±0.7 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.6%±0.7 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	12.9%±1.1 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±0.9 pts	4.7%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.7%±0.9 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	20.2%±1.5 pts	39.4%	+2.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.4%±0.9 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.7%±0.3 pts	1.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in McLeod County earn?

Half of McLeod County's 15,215 households earn less than $80,084 a year (±$3,795), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $76,452 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McLeod County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$80,084±$3,795	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$99,958±$5,434	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$42,495±$2,372	$48,237	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.7%±1.4 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	9.3%±3.4 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.8%±1.4 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.5%±1.7 pts	91.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in McLeod County?

Owners occupy 77.4% of McLeod County's occupied homes and renters 22.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $246,100 by its owner (±$6,149). The median renter pays $941 a month including utilities, and 30.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McLeod County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$246,100±$6,149	$329,300	+$43,405
Median gross rent	$941±$58	$1,280	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	30.5%±6.0 pts	38.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,650±$40	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	77.4%±2.1 pts	72.2%	no clear change
Housing units	15,972±71	2,545,030	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.6 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.9%±3.7 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.3%±2.1 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	4.8%±1.4 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.3%±0.5 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	15.6%±1.7 pts	15.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is McLeod County building?

Builders took permits for 206 new housing units across McLeod County in 2025 (63 single-family), 5.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 90 units
2020 91 units
2021 115 units
2022 64 units
2023 78 units
2024 50 units
2025 206 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in McLeod County get to work?

78.9% of McLeod County's workers drive alone and 8.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McLeod County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	67.4%±1.2 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.3%±0.7 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.9%±1.8 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	6.7%±1.2 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.4%±0.3 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	3.1%±1.1 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	8.8%±1.3 pts	17.6%	+5.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	23.0 min±1.3	22.7 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are McLeod County's census tracts?

McLeod County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $60,804 (Tract 9503.01) to $104,056 (Tract 9502).

Census tracts of McLeod County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950127085950100	Winsted (26%)	5,378	5,113±293	$79,708	$237,400	$845	6.7%
Tract 950227085950200	Biscay (5%)	4,036	3,855±233	$104,056	$369,600	$1,021	4.6%
Tract 9503.0127085950301	Hutchinson (83%)	3,408	4,006±433	$60,804	$232,400	$975	11.6%
Tract 9503.0227085950302	Hutchinson (97%)	3,098	2,842±296	$72,911	$200,900	$802	15.2%
Tract 9504.0127085950401	Hutchinson (96%)	5,831	5,753±391	$85,709	$266,000	$965	12.6%
Tract 9504.0227085950402	Hutchinson (94%)	1,864	1,905±289	$62,195	$197,600	$867	7.8%
Tract 950527085950500	Brownton (15%)	2,715	2,753±182	$84,727	$226,700	$832	6.4%
Tract 950627085950600	Lester Prairie (13%)	4,639	4,702±246	$95,605	$286,500	$764	4.3%
Tract 950727085950700	Glencoe (93%)	5,802	5,869±109	$72,409	$230,400	$1,105	9.0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does McLeod County compare with Minnesota's other counties?

McLeod County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	29th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	56th of 87
Residents per square mile	20th of 87
Median household income	21st of 87
Median home value	35th of 87
Median gross rent	32nd of 87
Poverty rate	60th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	68th of 87
Median age	46th of 87

Every county in Minnesota

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for McLeod County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.