Meeker County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Meeker County, Minnesota had an estimated 23,491 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,399, across 608 square miles. County output reached $1.59 bn in 2024, 606 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $7.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Meeker County
How many people live in Meeker County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,468
- Households9,347
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$75,446
- Median age42.2
- Median gross rent$904 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$249,000
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over16,222
- Population under 185,522
- Share under 1823.5 percent
- Population 65 and over4,934
- Share 65 and over21.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6413,012
- Civilian labor force12,086
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.3 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties43rd of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1712th of 3,222
Meeker County is the 43rd largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.5 percent against 21.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Meeker County
Is Meeker County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202423,491
- Census 2020 base population23,399
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.39 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20246
- Births, 2024239
- Deaths, 2024229
- Natural change, 202410
- Net domestic migration, 2024-33
- Net international migration, 202428
- Total net migration, 2024-5
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1679th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.39 percent since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Meeker County
Where are people moving to Meeker County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving577
- People arriving, from those returns1,086
- Tax returns filed by households leaving663
- Net household movement-86
- Adjusted gross income arriving$38.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-5.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,172
- Average income of a leaving household$67,116
- Largest single originStearns County (103 households)
- Largest single destinationStearns County (101 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns County | 103 | 210 | $6.2 m |
| Wright County | 103 | 218 | $7.8 m |
| McLeod County | 70 | 118 | $4.0 m |
| Hennepin County | 44 | 76 | $4.1 m |
| Kandiyohi County | 42 | 93 | $4.2 m |
Households arriving report $56 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 Stearns 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.
Meeker County
What is the Meeker County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.59 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.56 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.6 percent
- GDP change over five years36.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes40th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1465th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,570
Output grew 1.6 percent in the latest year and 36.0 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.
Meeker County
Employment by industry in Meeker County
- Covered employment, annual average8,042
- Establishments reporting708
- Average annual pay$53,874
- Average weekly wage$1,036
- Manufacturing, employment2,229
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$65,432
- Retail trade, employment847
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,175
- Construction, employment539
- Construction, average annual pay$68,338
- Accommodation and food services, employment459
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,884
- Wholesale trade, employment384
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment241
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,229 | 62 | $65,432 |
| Retail trade | 847 | 68 | $36,175 |
| Construction | 539 | 102 | $68,338 |
| Accommodation and food services | 459 | 43 | $17,884 |
| Wholesale trade | 384 | 24 | $69,703 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 241 | 45 | $62,433 |
| Other services, except public administration | 193 | 75 | $32,507 |
| Finance and insurance | 180 | 30 | $74,132 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,229 jobs, 27.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Meeker County
How many businesses are in Meeker County?
- Establishments, all industries606
- Employment at those establishments6,775
- Annual payroll$366.2 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.
Meeker County
Building permits in Meeker County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202471
- Declared construction value permitted$20.9 m
- Single family units authorized66
- Multifamily units authorized5
- Multifamily share of units7.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$294,534
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.6
Single-family homes are 93.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Meeker County
SBA loans in Meeker County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$323,174
- Median 7(a) approval$173,700
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$974,000
- Largest single approval$1,185,600
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)131
- Jobs per approval5.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter16
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals13.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSnack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (3)
- Most active lenderCitizens Bank & Trust Co (6)
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.4 m
- Average 504 approval$670,235
- Median 504 approval$366,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval9.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.8
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (14)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$18.8 m
The average approval of $323,174 sits well above the median of $173,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.4 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.
Meeker County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Meeker County
Do SBA loans in Meeker County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded11
- Paid in full11
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 11 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.
Meeker County
SBA lending by place in Meeker County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Litchfield, approvals6
- Eden Valley, approvals4
- Darwin, approvals3
- Dassel, approvals3
- Paynesville, approvals2
- Hutchinson, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | 6 | $3,693,700 |
| Eden Valley | 4 | $1,594,300 |
| Darwin | 3 | $390,000 |
| Dassel | 3 | $360,000 |
| Paynesville | 2 | $700,000 |
| Hutchinson | 2 | $250,000 |
| Watkins | 2 | $110,000 |
| Cosmos | 1 | $335,000 |
Litchfield accounts for 6 approvals against 4 in Eden Valley. 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.
Meeker County
How large is Meeker County?
- Land area608 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties52nd of 87
- Width, east to west24.8 mi
- Height, north to south30 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land39
- Establishments per square mile1.00
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.
Meeker County
Flood risk in Meeker County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Meeker County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270280
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate71.4 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Meeker County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Meeker County (community 270280), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Meeker County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 71.4 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 Meeker 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 Meeker County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,468
- Households9,347
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$75,446
- Median age42.2
Common questions
Meeker County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Meeker County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 23,491 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 23,468, in 9,347 households, ranking 43rd of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Meeker County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.39 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,399, to 23,491 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 239 births against 229 deaths, with net migration of -5. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Meeker County?
$75,446. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,000, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $904 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Meeker County?
606 establishments, employing 6,775 people with an annual payroll of $366.2 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 Meeker County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,229 jobs, 27.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,042 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,874, or $1,036 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Meeker County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $7.4 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $173,700, plus 17 504 approvals worth $11.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Meeker County?
71 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $20.9 m. Multifamily was 7.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Meeker County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 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 Meeker County come from?
The largest single origin is Stearns County, with 103 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,172 against $67,116 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Meeker 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 Meeker 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.
Meeker County
Cities and places in Meeker.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Meeker County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | city | 6,576 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Dassel | city | 1,358 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Eden Valley | city | 1,002 | 4 | 53.0 percent here, 47.0 percent Stearns County |
| Grove City | city | 814 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Watkins | city | 765 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Cosmos | city | 536 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Darwin | city | 358 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Kingston | city | 206 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cedar Mills | city | 40 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 23 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Meeker County, the largest being Paynesville (2), Hutchinson (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby