County · Minnesota

Steele County, Minnesota

Steele County, Minnesota. Steele County had 37,464 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). It holds 17 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 13 towns and townships) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 27147.

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

Residents, July 2025 estimate

37,464

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 37,406 · ACS 2020-2024: 37,439

Median household income

$84,196

±$5,645 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$245,400

±$8,328 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$1,061

±$69 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

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

The 2020 Census counted 37,406 residents in Steele County. The Census Bureau estimates 37,464 for July 1, 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 37,439 over 430 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +53 (37,441)
2021→2022 +30 (37,471)
2022→2023 −9 (37,462)
2023→2024 −9 (37,453)
2024→2025 +11 (37,464)

Steele County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Steele County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	37,439	5,739,445	+756
Households	15,138±250	2,307,955	+446
Average household size	2.44±0.04	2.43	no clear change
Housing units	15,995±40	2,545,030	+367

Steele County's population since 2000

From 33,680 in 2000 to 37,464 in 2025: up 11.2%. 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 33,680
2005 (estimate) 35,568
2010 Census 36,576
2015 (estimate) 36,628
2020 Census 37,406
2025 (estimate) 37,464

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 Steele County?

Steele County holds 17 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 13 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Owatonna with 26,633 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 Steele County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Owatonna	city	26,420	26,498±62	$80,750	$245,200	9.2%	100%
Blooming Prairie	city	1,974	1,843±261	$63,656	$161,300	7.5%	100%
Medford	city	1,315	1,257±175	$108,250	$249,600	4.9%	100%
Medford Township	township	843	985±190	$77,361	$57,700	10.2%	100%
Somerset Township	township	733	727±114	$102,750	$283,300	4.3%	100%
Ellendale	city	676	754±146	$89,375	$155,200	2.7%	100%
Meriden Township	township	620	551±79	$112,500	$258,300	5.3%	100%
Owatonna Township	township	613	728±165	$129,750	$352,200	5.1%	100%
Havana Township	township	556	479±78	$91,563	$380,800	5.0%	100%
Deerfield Township, Steele County	township	542	485±107	$97,222	$350,000	2.1%	100%
Aurora Township	township	528	484±92	$86,667	$303,500	1.9%	100%
Berlin Township	township	506	497±91	$100,972	$279,500	3.8%	100%
Lemond Township	township	503	569±147	$108,958	$263,200	17.4%	100%
Summit Township, Steele County	township	433	458±117	$106,875	$321,700	2.8%	100%
Blooming Prairie Township	township	397	454±80	$103,000	$270,500	7.9%	100%
Clinton Falls Township	township	386	321±74	$101,042	$394,400	7.2%	100%
Merton Township	township	361	349±83	$92,292	$356,000	7.2%	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 Steele County?

The median resident of Steele County is 40.5 years old; 24.3% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.9%. 4.3% 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	Steele County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.5±0.5	38.8	+1.5
Under 18 years	24.3%	22.9%	–
65 years and over	19.2%±0.2 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8.9%	6.4%	+1.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	83.5%±0.7 pts	75.9%	−3.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.3%±0.5 pts	6.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	5.1%	−0.5 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.9 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	4.3%±0.9 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.7%±1.1 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.4%±1.1 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	11.7%±1.1 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.5%±0.8 pts	4.7%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.7%±1.1 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	28.0%±2.4 pts	39.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.2%±1.3 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.3%±0.7 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 Steele County earn?

Half of Steele County's 15,138 households earn less than $84,196 a year (±$5,645), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $79,876 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Steele County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$84,196±$5,645	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$101,587±$4,709	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$41,674±$1,855	$48,237	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.3%±1.6 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	9.7%±3.4 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.7%±1.2 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.7%±1.8 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 Steele County?

Owners occupy 79.4% of Steele County's occupied homes and renters 20.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $245,400 by its owner (±$8,328). The median renter pays $1,061 a month including utilities, and 48.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Steele County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$245,400±$8,328	$329,300	+$37,044
Median gross rent	$1,061±$69	$1,280	+$113
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	48.0%±6.5 pts	38.4%	+9.5 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,664±$73	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.4%±2.0 pts	72.2%	+4.2 pts
Housing units	15,995±40	2,545,030	+367
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.6 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.9%±3.6 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	74.9%±1.8 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	4.0%±0.9 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.8%±0.4 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	19.1%±2.0 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 Steele County building?

Builders took permits for 54 new housing units across Steele County in 2025 (32 single-family), 1.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 83 units
2020 161 units
2021 140 units
2022 214 units
2023 148 units
2024 28 units
2025 54 units

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

How do people in Steele County get to work?

80.2% of Steele County's workers drive alone and 8.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Steele County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	66.1%±1.7 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.4%±0.9 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.2%±2.3 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	6.7%±1.4 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.9%±0.6 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	2.3%±0.6 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	8.7%±1.7 pts	17.6%	+4.4 pts
Mean travel time to work	19.1 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 Steele County's census tracts?

Steele County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $52,015 (Tract 9604) to $104,894 (Tract 9602).

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

Tract 960127147960100	Medford (14%)	5,017	5,127±319	$99,700	$304,600	$1,405	5.7%
Tract 960227147960200	Owatonna (83%)	6,311	6,145±442	$104,894	$297,100	$978	4.0%
Tract 960327147960300	Owatonna (96%)	6,419	6,003±498	$87,905	$248,500	$1,013	10.7%
Tract 960427147960400	Owatonna (93%)	4,351	4,531±451	$52,015	$185,200	$1,210	11.9%
Tract 960527147960500	Owatonna (3%)	2,832	2,701±169	$103,333	$275,000	$1,268	6.5%
Tract 960627147960600	Owatonna (97%)	3,571	3,796±469	$55,855	$211,900	$840	18.2%
Tract 960727147960700	Owatonna (96%)	5,295	5,437±485	$102,313	$249,900	$1,750	6.1%
Tract 960827147960800	Blooming Prairie (29%)	3,610	3,699±231	$73,870	$180,700	$836	5.9%

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

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

Steele County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	28th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	51st of 87
Residents per square mile	17th of 87
Median household income	14th of 87
Median home value	36th of 87
Median gross rent	17th of 87
Poverty rate	67th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	29th of 87
Median age	55th 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 Steele 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.