Sibley County scores 72.1, well above the national median of 50.0 and in the top 44th percentile nationally. The county delivers livability quality significantly stronger than most American counties.
2 / 5
Slightly Above Minnesota Average
At 72.1, Sibley County edges above Minnesota's state average of 70.9, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's counties. It's a solid performer with modest competitive advantage.
3 / 5
Affordability and Health Balance Well
Sibley County combines excellent housing affordability—Cost Score of 76.0, median home value $215,000, rent at $858/month—with strong Health Score of 79.2. The Tax Score of 71.3 supports overall financial stability.
4 / 5
Income Potential Constrained
The Income Score of 33.0 reflects a median household income of $76,082, limiting opportunity for higher-earning professionals. The effective tax rate of 1.099% is among this cohort's highest, slightly offsetting tax benefits.
5 / 5
Perfect for Stability-Seeking Retirees
Sibley County appeals to retirees and families prioritizing affordable, stable living with reliable healthcare in rural southern Minnesota. It's ideal for those with modest incomes seeking strong health services and low housing costs.
Sibley County scores 72.1, well above the national median of 50.0 and in the top 44th percentile nationally. The county delivers livability quality significantly stronger than most American counties.
Slightly Above Minnesota Average
At 72.1, Sibley County edges above Minnesota's state average of 70.9, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's counties. It's a solid performer with modest competitive advantage.
Affordability and Health Balance Well
Sibley County combines excellent housing affordability—Cost Score of 76.0, median home value $215,000, rent at $858/month—with strong Health Score of 79.2. The Tax Score of 71.3 supports overall financial stability.
Income Potential Constrained
The Income Score of 33.0 reflects a median household income of $76,082, limiting opportunity for higher-earning professionals. The effective tax rate of 1.099% is among this cohort's highest, slightly offsetting tax benefits.
Perfect for Stability-Seeking Retirees
Sibley County appeals to retirees and families prioritizing affordable, stable living with reliable healthcare in rural southern Minnesota. It's ideal for those with modest incomes seeking strong health services and low housing costs.
Score breakdown
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🏛71.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Sibley County's effective property tax rate of 1.099% ranks well above the national median, making it one of the higher-taxed counties nationally. The median property tax of $2,364 slightly exceeds the national median of $2,690 relative to the county's median home value of $215,000.
Sibley second-highest in Minnesota
Sibley County's 1.099% effective rate ranks second-highest in Minnesota, exceeded only by Scott County's 1.066%—and substantially above the state average of 0.968%. Median taxes of $2,364 run 9% above the state average despite lower home values.
Sibley leads region with highest rate
Sibley County's 1.099% rate exceeds all regional neighbors, including Renville County's 1.016%, Roseau County's 0.928%, and Rock County's 0.720%. This rural south-central Minnesota county carries the heaviest property tax burden in its region.
Sibley homeowners pay $2,364 annually
The median home in Sibley County is valued at $215,000; at the county's 1.099% effective rate, that homeowner pays approximately $2,364 in annual property taxes. Mortgage holders see this climb to $2,451 due to escrow arrangements.
Sibley's high rate makes appeals worthwhile
With the state's second-highest tax rate, Sibley County homeowners have significant incentive to challenge inflated assessments. Contact your assessor to request a formal reassessment if your property's valuation seems disconnected from comparable recent sales.
Sibley County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.5% beats Minnesota's 14.5% average and sits comfortably below national norms, while median household income of $76,082 slightly exceeds the $74,755 national average. Median rent of $858 per month exceeds Minnesota's $915 state average, yet remains manageable given the county's above-average wages.
Sibley Performs Well Statewide
Sibley County's 13.5% rent-to-income ratio ranks above Minnesota's average, reflecting a working-class rural economy with reasonable housing costs relative to earnings. The county outperforms statewide affordability norms despite sitting outside major metro corridors.
Sibley's Central Minnesota Positioning
Sibley County's $858 rent exceeds the rural bargains of Rock ($745) and Renville ($760) but trails more expensive peers like Roseau ($886) and Rice ($1,046). Home values of $215,000 sit in the regional middle, making Sibley a balanced option within central Minnesota's affordability spectrum.
Housing Claims Modest Income Share
Renters spend $858 monthly while homeowners pay $1,113, consuming roughly 13.5% and 17.5% of the $76,082 median household income respectively. Sibley households enjoy income levels slightly above national averages, allowing them to absorb these costs while maintaining meaningful savings capacity.
Sibley County for Value-Conscious Families
Earning close to the national median? Sibley County delivers above-average affordability at 13.5% rent-to-income while offering small-town Minnesota character. Compare it to rock-bottom Rock County or higher-cost suburbs, and you'll see Sibley as a pragmatic middle path with solid wage prospects.
Sibley County's median household income of $76,082 edges 1.8% above the national median of $74,755—nearly at parity with the U.S. average. The county performs right in line with typical American households.
At Minnesota's state average
At $76,082, Sibley County sits just slightly below Minnesota's state average of $75,757, performing near the middle of the state's counties. The per capita income of $38,862 also closely mirrors the state average of $39,335.
Mid-range among rural counties
Sibley County's $76,082 exceeds most rural neighbors including Renville ($69,086) and Rock ($70,698), while trailing Rice County ($82,792). The county represents solid middle-tier earning power in south-central Minnesota.
Balanced affordability statewide
With a 13.5% rent-to-income ratio, Sibley County offers reasonable housing affordability for its income level. The median home value of $215,000 aligns sensibly with typical household earnings.
Build wealth through consistency
Sibley County's moderate income of $76,082 and solid affordability (13.5%) provide a stable foundation for steady wealth accumulation. Consistent contributions to retirement accounts and diversified investments, even if modest, compound meaningfully over decades.
At 80.4 years, Sibley County's life expectancy surpasses the U.S. average of 80.3 years, placing the county in the upper range of American health outcomes. The county's 15.0% poor or fair health rate matches the national average nearly exactly, suggesting typical prevalence of health challenges. Overall, Sibley demonstrates above-average longevity for a rural Minnesota county.
Above average Minnesota county for longevity
Sibley County's 80.4-year life expectancy exceeds Minnesota's state average of 78.7 years by 1.7 years, ranking it among the state's healthiest counties. The 6.2% uninsured rate slightly exceeds the state's 6.0% average, indicating generally good coverage with minor gaps. This combination reflects strong community health outcomes relative to state peers.
Sibley's 80.4-year life expectancy exceeds Renville (77.8 years) and Roseau (77.0 years), though it trails Scott County (81.1 years) by less than one year. However, Sibley's primary care provider density at just 13 per 100,000 residents is the lowest among comparison counties, forcing significant travel for routine care. Mental health providers at 66 per 100K fall below many regional peers, creating additional access barriers.
Good health despite limited provider infrastructure
Despite exceptional life expectancy, Sibley faces a critical primary care provider shortage at just 13 per 100,000 residents—requiring residents to travel substantial distances for checkups. The 6.2% uninsured rate means most residents have coverage, yet limited providers constrain its utility. Mental health services at 66 per 100K present additional barriers to comprehensive behavioral healthcare.
Secure insurance for necessary travel to care
Sibley's provider shortage means residents often travel for care—strong health insurance is essential to ensure that travel is worthwhile financially. Visit MNsure.org to verify coverage status and explore options before scheduling appointments in adjacent counties. Maintaining active coverage protects you against unexpected costs when accessing out-of-county healthcare.
Sibley County's composite risk score of 22.96 sits well below the national average, earning a Very Low risk rating. Residents face substantially fewer natural disaster threats than typical Americans.
Well below Minnesota average
At 22.96, Sibley County's risk score ranks comfortably below Minnesota's state average of 42.38, making it one of the safer counties in the state. The Very Low rating reflects modest exposure across all hazard categories.
Safer than Rice and Scott
Sibley County (22.96) is significantly safer than neighboring Rice County (75.45) and Scott County (76.56) to the east, though slightly riskier than Rock County (9.41) to the south. Among central Minnesota counties, it ranks near the safest.
Tornadoes are primary threat
Tornadoes represent Sibley County's greatest hazard at 42.33, though this remains below the state average for this common Midwestern danger. Flooding (31.20) poses a secondary risk, while wildfire and earthquake threats are minimal.
Standard coverage meets most needs
Sibley County's low overall risk means standard homeowners insurance provides adequate protection for most scenarios. Add windstorm riders for tornado coverage and maintain a severe weather plan, but supplemental flood insurance is only necessary for properties in known flood zones.