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Brown County, MN
9 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Brown County, Minnesota.
Population
25,800
Land area
611sq mi
People per sq mi
42
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Brown County
Brown County at a glance
- Brown County is 41% less dense than Minnesota as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $69,378 a year, 22% less than the Minnesota figure of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $191,200 (42% below Minnesota) and median rent is $890 a month.
- The biggest population centers are New Ulm (14,056), Sleepy Eye (3,444) and Springfield (2,125).
Local data for Brown County, MN
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Brown County, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$69,378
Poverty rate
8.5%
Median home value
$191,200
Prices +5.8% in a year
Median rent
$890/mo
Homeownership
78.9%
Bachelor's or higher
24.5%
Median age
42.0
Average commute
14.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (14,647), Norwegian Americans (2,557), Irish Americans (1,512).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Sep 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,610
13,328 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,759
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$197M
FY 2026, $7,595 per person
PPP loans
$111M
2,378 loans, 11,293 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$264K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Brown County, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.8%
- Carpooled6.8%
- Public transit0.4%
- Walked4.8%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home7.3%
Average one-way commute: 14.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Brown County, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
449
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
29
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 7°F
31.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone33 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Brown County, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.5%
U.S. 33.3% +2.2 pts
Diabetes
11.5%
U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts
Smoking
14.6%
U.S. 12.8% +1.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.1%
U.S. 11.1% -3.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Brown County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Brown County, MN?
- New Ulm is the largest city or town in Brown County, with about 14,056 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Brown County?
- Brown County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 56019, 56030, 56041, 56073, 56085.
- What is the population of Brown County, MN?
- About 25,800 people live in Brown County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Brown County?
- Brown County borders Blue Earth County, Nicollet County, Redwood County, Renville County, Cottonwood County, Watonwan County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023