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Steele County, MN
4 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Steele County, Minnesota.
Population
37,439
Land area
430sq mi
People per sq mi
87
ZIP codes
5
Cities and towns in Steele County
Steele County at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $84,196 a year, 5% less than the Minnesota figure of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $245,400 (25% below Minnesota) and median rent is $1,061 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Owatonna (26,498), Blooming Prairie (1,843) and Medford (1,257).
Local data for Steele County, MN
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Steele County, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$84,196
Poverty rate
8.3%
Median home value
$245,400
Prices +5.0% in a year
Median rent
$1,061/mo
Homeownership
79.4%
Bachelor's or higher
28.0%
Median age
40.5
Average commute
19.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (11,823), Norwegian Americans (5,888), Irish Americans (3,208).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.6%
Aug 2026, +0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,201
19,168 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,040
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$283M
FY 2026, $7,563 per person
PPP loans
$77.52M
1,534 loans, 9,173 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$85.45K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Steele County, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.2%
- Carpooled6.7%
- Public transit0.9%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home8.7%
Average one-way commute: 19.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Steele County, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
373
Most often winter storm
Flood insurance policies
66
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 5°F
35.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Steele County, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.4%
U.S. 33.3% +4.1 pts
Diabetes
10.9%
U.S. 12.1% -1.2 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.2%
U.S. 11.1% -2.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Steele County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Steele County, MN?
- Owatonna is the largest city or town in Steele County, with about 26,498 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Steele County?
- Steele County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 55049, 55060, 55917, 56026, 56046.
- What is the population of Steele County, MN?
- About 37,439 people live in Steele County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Steele County?
- Steele County borders Rice County, Mower County, Freeborn County, Dodge County, Waseca County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023