Blooming Prairie: Economy & Jobs
Households in Blooming Prairie earn a median $63,656 (1.3× below Steele County median $84,196; 1.4× below Minnesota median $89,062), with homes at a median value of $161,300. The surrounding county supports 5,967 jobs (avg $61,269).
- $82,634 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Minnesota $91,811).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $63,656 — below the Minnesota median ($87,024). Poverty rate 7.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 34% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 12.8% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 34.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 7.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $10,590 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $875,098 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $82,634 (vs Minnesota $91,811) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $72,848 |
| Median Household Income | $63,656 (vs Minnesota $87,024) |
| Poverty Rate | 7.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $63,656 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 11% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 20.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 11.0% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 5,967 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $365,577,079 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $61,269 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,881,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.5% (vs Minnesota 2.8%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 13 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 1,633 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 125.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Soybeans |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 408 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 4,762 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 277,149 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 7 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 9 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 11 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 8 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Casey's 2843 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 3 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | LONSDALE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $114,891,635 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,505.90 (vs Minnesota $8,335) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 20,867 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 74.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 8.1% |
| Pct Walked | 11.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 44.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 47.2% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12