Aitkin County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Aitkin County, Minnesota had an estimated 16,335 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,696, across 1,822 square miles. County output reached $673.7 m in 2024, 415 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 30 7(a) approvals worth $7.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Aitkin County
How many people live in Aitkin County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,056
- Households7,222
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$60,833
- Median age56.9
- Median gross rent$869 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$255,800
- Home value to household income4.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over12,673
- Population under 182,510
- Share under 1815.6 percent
- Population 65 and over5,522
- Share 65 and over34.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,024
- Civilian labor force6,666
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over49.2 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties53rd of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2096th of 3,222
Aitkin County is the 53rd largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 4.2 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 34.4 percent against 15.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Aitkin County
Is Aitkin County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,335
- Census 2020 base population15,696
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.07 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024196
- Births, 2024124
- Deaths, 2024223
- Natural change, 2024-99
- Net domestic migration, 2024292
- Net international migration, 20247
- Total net migration, 2024299
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,086
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents677th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.07 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Aitkin County
Where are people moving to Aitkin County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving560
- People arriving, from those returns960
- Tax returns filed by households leaving409
- Net household movement151
- Adjusted gross income arriving$48.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$22.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$85,718
- Average income of a leaving household$63,306
- Largest single originHennepin County (76 households)
- Largest single destinationCrow Wing County (80 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 76 | 126 | $8.4 m |
| Crow Wing County | 60 | 107 | $4.4 m |
| Anoka County | 53 | 87 | $5.2 m |
| Ramsey County | 29 | 50 | $3.0 m |
| Mille Lacs County | 26 | 47 | $2.3 m |
| Dakota County | 25 | 40 | $2.9 m |
| Washington County | 21 | 33 | $1.5 m |
Households arriving report $22,412 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Hennepin County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Aitkin County
What is the Aitkin County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$673.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$620.7 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.5 percent
- GDP change over five years33.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes69th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2181st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$41,956
Output grew 8.5 percent in the latest year and 33.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Aitkin County
Employment by industry in Aitkin County
- Covered employment, annual average4,328
- Establishments reporting476
- Average annual pay$47,689
- Average weekly wage$917
- Retail trade, employment624
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,820
- Accommodation and food services, employment567
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,321
- Manufacturing, employment346
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$59,961
- Construction, employment207
- Construction, average annual pay$55,003
- Other services, except public administration, employment159
- Wholesale trade, employment121
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 624 | 68 | $30,820 |
| Accommodation and food services | 567 | 60 | $19,321 |
| Manufacturing | 346 | 20 | $59,961 |
| Construction | 207 | 64 | $55,003 |
| Other services, except public administration | 159 | 42 | $22,713 |
| Wholesale trade | 121 | 11 | $53,284 |
| Finance and insurance | 98 | 18 | $56,613 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 90 | 15 | $29,767 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 624 jobs, 14.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Aitkin County
How many businesses are in Aitkin County?
- Establishments, all industries415
- Employment at those establishments3,632
- Annual payroll$181.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Aitkin County
Building permits in Aitkin County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024135
- Declared construction value permitted$42.7 m
- Single family units authorized135
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$316,632
- Units authorized per 1,000 households18.7
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Aitkin County
SBA loans in Aitkin County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded30
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$238,447
- Median 7(a) approval$84,700
- 10th percentile approval$24,280
- 90th percentile approval$797,150
- Largest single approval$1,784,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)406
- Jobs per approval13.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals21
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter24
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals6.7 percent
- Most active lenderSecurity State Bank of Aitkin (8)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.5 m
- Average 504 approval$717,667
- Median 504 approval$268,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval7.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.7
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.6 m
The average approval of $238,447 sits well above the median of $84,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 20.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aitkin County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Aitkin County
Do SBA loans in Aitkin County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure15
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 12 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aitkin County
SBA lending by place in Aitkin County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Aitkin, approvals25
- McGregor, approvals4
- Hill City, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | 25 | $5,523,500 |
| McGregor | 4 | $664,900 |
| Hill City | 1 | $965,000 |
Aitkin accounts for 25 approvals against 4 in McGregor. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aitkin County
How large is Aitkin County?
- Land area1,822 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties9th of 87
- Width, east to west36 mi
- Height, north to south60.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land9
- Establishments per square mile0.23
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Aitkin County
Flood risk in Aitkin County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Aitkin County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270628
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Aitkin County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Aitkin County (community 270628), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Aitkin County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Aitkin County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Aitkin County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,056
- Households7,222
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$60,833
- Median age56.9
Common questions
Aitkin County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Aitkin County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,335 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 16,056, in 7,222 households, ranking 53rd of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Aitkin County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.07 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,696, to 16,335 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 124 births against 223 deaths, with net migration of 299. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Aitkin County?
$60,833. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $255,800, which is 4.2 times income, and median gross rent is $869 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Aitkin County?
415 establishments, employing 3,632 people with an annual payroll of $181.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Aitkin County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 624 jobs, 14.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,328 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,689, or $917 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Aitkin County?
30 7(a) approvals totaling $7.2 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $84,700, plus 9 504 approvals worth $6.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Aitkin County?
135 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $42.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Aitkin County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Aitkin County come from?
The largest single origin is Hennepin County, with 76 households. Arriving households report an average income of $85,718 against $63,306 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Aitkin County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Aitkin County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Aitkin County
Cities and places in Aitkin.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Aitkin County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | city | 2,323 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| Hill City | city | 503 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| McGregor | city | 367 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Palisade | city | 148 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tamarack | city | 43 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| McGrath | city | 28 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |