The town named the poorest in Minnesota is Aurora, located in St. Louis County on the Minnesota Iron Range. According to a 2023 analysis by 24/7 Wall St., Aurora has a population of 1,709 and a median household income of $32,287, which is significantly lower than the state’s median of $77,706. Additionally, 28.4% of households in Aurora receive government aid, reflecting the town’s economic challenges.
The criteria used to determine the poorest town included factors such as median household income, percentage of households receiving SNAP benefits, educational attainment, and median home value.
Aurora’s economic struggles are attributed to the decline of the once-booming mining industry in the region, which has led to reduced prosperity and increased reliance on government assistance.
While other cities in Minnesota, such as Bemidji, Mankato, and St. Cloud, also have high poverty rates, Aurora stands out due to its particularly low median income and high percentage of residents depending on aid.
Sources:
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-13-minnesota-town-named-the-poorest-in-the-entire-state/
- https://kdwb.iheart.com/content/2023-11-13-minnesota-town-named-the-poorest-in-the-entire-state/
- https://minnesotabrown.com/2023/02/rich-town-poor-town.html
- https://stacker.com/stories/minnesota/cities-minnesota-most-living-poverty
- https://kxrb.com/new-study-says-this-is-the-poorest-town-in-minnesota/
- https://247wallst.com/income/2025/01/17/the-poorest-town-in-every-state-in-america/