County profile · Minnesota
Blue Earth County, MN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Blue Earth County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 70,634
- +2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 27,606
- Median household income
- $74,477
- +29.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $266,700
- Jobs located here
- 37,905
- Highest market score
- 84
- Primary care and pediatrics, #44 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Blue Earth County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Blue Earth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 70,634 people live in Blue Earth County, in 27,606 households. Population estimates show Blue Earth County grew 2.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Blue Earth County is $74,477 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 29.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Blue Earth County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (67).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Blue Earth County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (84), grocery and convenience stores (78) and optometrists and eye clinics (77). Blue Earth County ranks #44 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato metro area. For its number of households, Blue Earth County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for grocery stores (31% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Blue Earth County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Blue Earth County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 84 | #44 of 1,656 | 8 | 2.9 | $4.8M | 268 | 15 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 78 | #223 of 2,402 | 40 | 14.5 | $4.1M | 121 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 77 | #100 of 1,302 | 9 | 3.3 | $4.2M | 135 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | 77 | #129 of 1,485 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.8M | 139 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 76 | #270 of 2,070 | 13 | 4.7 | $12.7M | 136 | 7 |
| Barbershops | 69 | #258 of 1,356 | 9 | 3.3 | $3M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 68 | #484 of 2,261 | 20 | 7.2 | $8.2M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 67 | #266 of 1,327 | 6 | 2.2 | $5.1M | 165 | 9 |
| Gas stations | 65 | #545 of 2,358 | 21 | 7.6 | $3.7M | 155 | 31 |
| Physical therapy | 63 | #378 of 1,422 | 19 | 6.9 | $2M | 84 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 63 | #411 of 1,461 | 11 | 4.0 | $2.1M | 81 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 60 | #518 of 1,530 | 11 | 4.0 | $2.8M | 111 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #709 of 2,200 | 35 | 12.7 | $650K | 74 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #646 of 1,889 | 20 | 7.2 | $5.2M | 126 | 18 |
| Car washes and detailing | 55 | #615 of 1,451 | 15 | 5.4 | $2M | 81 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 55 | #950 of 2,378 | 62 | 22.5 | $493K | 111 | 37 |
| Funeral homes | 54 | #595 of 1,472 | 5 | 1.8 | $721K | 106 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #1,088 of 2,339 | 68 | 24.6 | $393K | 91 | 12 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 51 | #1,148 of 2,394 | 227 | 82.2 | $168K | 110 | 68 |
| Auto repair and car care | 50 | #1,233 of 2,401 | 113 | 40.9 | $271K | 101 | 52 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 47 | #1,048 of 1,886 | 33 | 12.0 | $1.2M | 118 | 29 |
| Laundromats | 46 | #437 of 785 | 5 | 1.8 | $10.6M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 46 | #785 of 1,334 | 13 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 89 | 8 |
| Nail salons | 45 | #827 of 1,328 | 14 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 114 | 12 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 44 | #1,461 of 2,405 | 157 | 56.9 | $666K | 100 | 58 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 43 | #508 of 777 | 5 | 1.8 | $4.7M | 115 | 14 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 42 | #1,325 of 2,063 | 34 | 12.3 | $3.1M | 83 | 18 |
| Pizza | 42 | #1,368 of 2,090 | 28 | 10.1 | $3.7M | 74 | 62 |
| House cleaning | 41 | #578 of 847 | 6 | 2.2 | $5.5M | 86 | 14 |
| Child care and preschools | 40 | #1,096 of 1,611 | 14 | 5.1 | $768K | 77 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 40 | #1,731 of 2,385 | 128 | 46.4 | $209K | 98 | 33 |
| Roofing and gutters | 39 | #835 of 1,177 | 11 | 4.0 | $6.6M | 78 | 7 |
| Gyms | 39 | #1,261 of 1,792 | 23 | 8.3 | $1M | 78 | 14 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #1,297 of 1,769 | 37 | 13.4 | $721K | 82 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 39 | #1,512 of 2,088 | 41 | 14.9 | $568K | 86 | 22 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #1,659 of 2,405 | 310 | 112.3 | $338K | 91 | 139 |
| Electricians | 38 | #859 of 1,160 | 9 | 3.3 | $8.1M | 67 | 19 |
| Pet stores | 37 | #684 of 974 | 7 | 2.5 | $3.2M | 72 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 34 | #1,727 of 2,222 | 55 | 19.9 | $1.9M | 62 | 62 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 31 | #761 of 887 | 11 | 4.0 | Index only | 88 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,256 of 1,490 | 31 | 11.2 | $1.2M | 51 | 17 |
| Home repair trades | 30 | #1,849 of 2,057 | 50 | 18.1 | $1.5M | 60 | 57 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 30 | #1,859 of 2,210 | 96 | 34.8 | $552K | 63 | 35 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #1,757 of 2,087 | 75 | 27.2 | $706K | 56 | 35 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 29 | #2,057 of 2,176 | 99 | 35.9 | Index only | 70 | 27 |
| Real estate | 28 | #2,132 of 2,229 | 127 | 46.0 | Index only | 69 | 52 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 27 | #1,559 of 1,707 | 30 | 10.9 | $2.4M | 51 | 31 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 25 | #1,678 of 1,771 | 35 | 12.7 | $946K | 56 | 49 |
| Property management | 23 | #859 of 910 | 14 | 5.1 | Index only | 49 | 17 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 23 | #1,419 of 1,493 | 26 | 9.4 | $1.3M | 43 | 35 |
| Insurance agencies | 17 | #2,149 of 2,272 | 68 | 24.6 | $691K | 55 | 54 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | Index only | 48 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $11M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $15.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $38.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Blue Earth County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $30.6M | $1,107 | 116 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $77.8M | $2,819 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $104.6M | $3,790 | 93 |
| Groceries | $164.5M | $5,958 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $26.7M | $967 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.8M | $390 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $23.3M | $843 | 86 |
| Medical and dental services | $38.2M | $1,382 | 107 |
| Pets | $22.7M | $824 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $53M | $1,918 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $47M | $1,703 | 87 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $72.8M | $2,637 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $33.1M | $1,199 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $379.7M | $13,753 | 83 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Blue Earth County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 70,634+2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 27,606
- Median age
- 34.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 748 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 93
- Median household income
- $74,477+29.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,438
- Median home value
- $266,700
- Jobs located here
- 37,905
- Daytime population
- 76,062Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Blue Earth County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Blue Earth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Minnesota 8
- Nicollet County, MN34,411 people
- Waseca County, MN18,885 people
- Le Sueur County, MN29,113 people
- Watonwan County, MN11,205 people
- Faribault County, MN13,914 people
- Brown County, MN25,800 people
- Sibley County, MN15,005 people
- Steele County, MN37,439 people
Questions
How fast is Blue Earth County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Blue Earth County at 70,634 people in 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 27,606 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 29.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Blue Earth County, MN spend?
Households in Blue Earth County spend about $379.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $164.5M on groceries and $104.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Blue Earth County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (67).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Blue Earth County, MN?
Of the business types scored in Blue Earth County, primary care and pediatric clinics (84), grocery and convenience stores (78) and optometrists and eye clinics (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #44 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Blue Earth County, MN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Blue Earth County is $74,477, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $266,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for grocery stores (31% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 51 of the 56 business types have a score in Blue Earth County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Blue Earth County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Blue Earth County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Blue Earth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.