Overview
Hennepin County is home to 1,268,903 people (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), making it the most populous county in Minnesota and larger than 99% of U.S. counties. Minneapolis, the state's largest city, sits at its center.
The numbers that define Hennepin are income and education. Median household income reaches $96,339 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 94% of U.S. counties. More than half of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 53.3% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), a rate that exceeds 98% of counties nationally. The median age is 37.4 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), younger than 82% of U.S. counties, reflecting a population skewed toward working-age adults.
A county this size generates enormous economic activity. Total adjusted gross income reported on tax returns was $77.9 billion (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). The labor force tops 717,000 (BLS LAUS, 2025). Banking deposits exceed $31 billion (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). These are big-county numbers by any measure.
Demographics
Hennepin's population is younger than most. At 37.4 years, the median age falls below the national median of roughly 39 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That youth tracks with the county's concentration of universities, hospitals, and corporate headquarters, all of which pull in younger workers.
The racial composition is more diverse than Minnesota overall. White residents make up 66% of the population, lower than 97% of the state's counties (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Black residents account for 13.2%, the highest share among Minnesota counties. Asian residents represent 7.1%, higher than 97% of U.S. counties. Hispanic residents make up 7.7%, and Native American residents 0.4% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023).
Education levels are a defining feature. With 53.3% of adults holding at least a bachelor's degree (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), Hennepin ranks above 98% of counties nationally and 99% within Minnesota. That concentration of college-educated workers shapes everything from income levels to voting patterns to the types of businesses that locate here.
Education
Per-pupil spending in Hennepin County is $19,040 (Education Data Portal, 2020), well above the national average of roughly $15,000. Total enrollment sits at 168,292 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), placing it among the largest school systems in the country.
The student-teacher ratio is 15.4 to 1 (Education Data Portal, 2021), close to the national average of about 15.5 to 1. Spending per student is high, but class sizes aren't notably smaller than what you'd find elsewhere.
The graduation rate is a concern. At 75.7% (Education Data Portal, 2019), it falls below the national average of roughly 87% and ranks lower than 92% of U.S. counties. For a county that spends generously and has one of the most educated adult populations in the country, that gap between adult attainment and K-12 completion raises questions about equity within the school system. The adults with degrees may not be the same population whose children are in the public schools.
Economy & Employment
The labor force numbers are straightforward: 717,852 people in the workforce, 691,420 employed, 26,432 unemployed (BLS LAUS, 2025). The unemployment rate of 3.7% sits near the middle of U.S. counties, slightly above the state's tightest labor markets.
Income tells a clearer story. Median household income of $96,339 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) is higher than 94% of U.S. counties. Per capita income reaches $57,633 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 98% nationally. Average adjusted gross income on tax returns was $120,737 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021), and average total income ran even higher at $121,988. These are top-tier income figures driven by the county's concentration of corporate headquarters, healthcare systems, and professional services.
Poverty hasn't disappeared. The rate is 9.8% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), lower than about 75% of U.S. counties but still representing roughly 124,000 people. In a county with median household income approaching six figures, a poverty rate near 10% points to significant income inequality. High averages can mask wide gaps.
Commute times are short. The mean is 17.4 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), faster than 86% of U.S. counties. Workers here spend less time getting to work than in most major metro counties.
Housing & Cost of Living
Median home value is $376,500 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 92% of U.S. counties and 95% of Minnesota counties. Median gross rent is $1,439 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 93% of counties nationally.
Fair market rents set by HUD tell the same story at every bedroom count. An efficiency apartment runs $1,242 per month. A one-bedroom is $1,405. Two bedrooms cost $1,709. Three bedrooms hit $2,262, and four bedrooms reach $2,531 (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026). All of these figures land above 90% of U.S. counties.
The vacancy rate is remarkably low at 5.3% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), lower than 95% of counties nationally. Of 564,441 total housing units, only 29,868 sit vacant (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). A tight housing market with high rents and high home values puts pressure on lower-income residents, particularly when nearly 10% of the population lives in poverty.
The ratio of home value to income is roughly 3.9 to 1. That's stretched but not extreme compared to coastal metros. Rent, though, takes a bigger bite. At $1,439 per month, a household earning the median income spends about 18% of gross pay on rent. For households earning half the median, that figure doubles.
Health & Wellness
Hennepin County's health outcomes are better than most of the country on nearly every measure CDC tracks. The obesity rate is 27.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than 97% of U.S. counties. Diabetes prevalence is 7.4%, lower than 99% of counties. High blood pressure affects 26.9% of adults, again lower than 97% nationally. Poor physical health days affect 9.4% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), one of the lowest rates in the country.
Mental health shows a different pattern. Depression affects 25.8% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than roughly a third of U.S. counties. Poor mental health days hit 14.9%, which is actually better than 97% of counties. The depression rate paired with low reported poor mental health days could reflect better access to diagnosis and treatment rather than worse outcomes.
Cholesterol screening rates are high at 85.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), above 84% of counties. Annual checkup rates are 73.7%, closer to the middle of the pack nationally.
The uninsured rate is 7.6% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than 89% of U.S. counties. Minnesota's public insurance programs cover more ground than most states, and it shows in this number.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Hennepin County is cold, snowy, and relatively quiet on the disaster front. The average annual temperature is 47.6°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), placing it in the coldest 22% of counties nationally. Winters are the defining season: average lows of 38.2°F (NOAA, 2025) and 39.2 inches of annual snowfall (NOAA, 2025) put it in the top fifth of the country for snow accumulation. Summer highs average 56.7°F (NOAA, 2025). Annual precipitation runs 32.3 inches (NOAA, 2025), spread across rain and snow.
FEMA has declared 18 disasters affecting the county since 1965 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026). That's below the national median. Flooding is the dominant hazard, accounting for seven declarations. Severe storms have triggered five more. There's also a 1998 tornado declaration and a 1976 drought emergency in the record.
The two most recent declarations, both in 2020, were biological emergencies tied to COVID-19 (FEMA, 2026). Before those, the last weather-related declaration was a 2016 flood.
The pattern here is flood risk, not storm frequency. The Mississippi and Minnesota rivers run through the county, and spring snowmelt has triggered major flooding events repeatedly across the decades. Anyone buying near low-lying areas should look at flood zone maps before closing.
Financial Profile
Hennepin County filed 645,310 tax returns reporting $77.9 billion in total adjusted gross income and $78.7 billion in total income (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI of $120,737 per return places the county above 96% of all U.S. counties. These figures reflect 2021 tax year data, which may include pandemic-era stimulus effects and market gains.
Banking infrastructure is solid. The county has 64 FDIC-insured bank branches holding $31.4 billion in deposits (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). That deposit total exceeds 98% of U.S. counties, reflecting Hennepin's role as the financial center of the Upper Midwest.
Social Security beneficiaries total 209,990 (SSA OASDI, 2024). That's roughly 16.5% of the total population, a relatively low share compared to counties with older populations. The county's younger median age means a smaller portion of residents depend on Social Security income.
Key Comparisons
Hennepin County consistently ranks in the top tier nationally on economic measures. Income, education, home values, and rents all fall above 90% of U.S. counties. Within Minnesota, it leads on nearly every economic indicator.
Where it stands out from other wealthy counties is health. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and poor physical health rates all rank among the lowest in the country. This combination of high income and strong health metrics is unusual.
The gaps are real too. A 75.7% graduation rate in a county where 53% of adults have college degrees suggests the benefits aren't evenly distributed. A poverty rate near 10% in a county with six-figure median incomes tells the same story from a different angle.
Housing costs are high but haven't reached the extremes of coastal metros. The 5.3% vacancy rate, though, leaves little slack in the market. Any increase in demand pushes directly into prices.
Compared to the national median household income of roughly $75,000, Hennepin's $96,339 runs about 28% higher. Compared to Minnesota's median of around $84,000, it's about 15% above. The county punches above its state, and the state already punches above the country.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023: Population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute times, poverty rate
- BLS LAUS, 2025: Unemployment rate, labor force, employment counts
- CDC PLACES, 2023: Health metrics including obesity, diabetes, mental health, insurance coverage, preventive care
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026: Fair market rent by bedroom count
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026: Disaster declarations and history
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021: Tax returns, adjusted gross income, total income
- FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023: Bank branch counts and total deposits
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025: Temperature and precipitation averages
- SSA OASDI, 2024: Social Security beneficiary counts
- USDA Census of Agriculture, 2022: Data not available for Hennepin County
- Education Data Portal, 2021: Per-pupil spending, enrollment, student-teacher ratio, graduation rate