Murray County is located in southwestern Minnesota along the Iowa border, part of the state’s prairie and agricultural region. Established in 1857 and organized in 1871, the county developed alongside late-19th-century railroad expansion and farm settlement on the open grasslands of the Buffalo Ridge area. Murray County is small in population, with roughly eight to nine thousand residents, and is characterized by a predominantly rural settlement pattern with small towns and dispersed farmsteads. The local economy is anchored in agriculture, including row-crop farming and livestock production, with related agribusiness and services supporting the region. The landscape includes gently rolling prairie, wind-swept uplands, and a network of lakes and wetlands, including portions of Lake Shetek, one of southwestern Minnesota’s larger lakes. The county seat is Slayton, which serves as the primary administrative and service center.
Murray County Local Demographic Profile
Murray County is located in southwestern Minnesota along the Buffalo Ridge region, with Slayton as the county seat. The county is primarily rural and lies within Minnesota’s agricultural prairie landscape; for local government and planning resources, visit the Murray County official website.
Population Size
County-level demographic statistics are published by the U.S. Census Bureau, but this response cannot provide exact figures because no Census tables or official county datasets were supplied in the prompt and live retrieval is not available in this session. Use the U.S. Census Bureau’s official county profile for the authoritative current totals: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Murray County, Minnesota.
For decennial counts and official time-series reference, use the Census Bureau’s data.census.gov portal (search “Murray County, Minnesota”).
Age & Gender
Age distribution (e.g., under 18, 18–64, 65+) and the male/female composition are reported in standard Census tables and summarized in QuickFacts. The authoritative county summary is available via QuickFacts (Murray County), and detailed breakdowns are available through data.census.gov (ACS 5-year tables such as age by sex).
Racial & Ethnic Composition
Race (e.g., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races) and Hispanic or Latino origin are published by the U.S. Census Bureau for counties. The official county-level summary appears in QuickFacts for Murray County, with more detailed tables accessible via data.census.gov (ACS race/ethnicity tables).
Household Data
Standard household characteristics reported for counties include household counts, average household size, family vs. nonfamily households, and selected economic characteristics commonly shown alongside household measures. These county-level household summaries are available from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page for Murray County, with table-level detail on data.census.gov (ACS household and family tables).
Housing Data
County-level housing indicators commonly include total housing units, owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied housing, and vacancy measures. The official summary indicators are provided on QuickFacts (Murray County), and detailed housing tables are available via data.census.gov (ACS housing occupancy and tenure tables).
Email Usage
Murray County, in southwestern Minnesota, is predominantly rural with low population density, which tends to increase per-household infrastructure costs and can constrain fixed broadband availability; this shapes how residents access email and other digital communication. Direct, county-specific email usage rates are not typically published, so broadband/computer access and demographics serve as proxies.
Digital access indicators are available from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS), which reports household broadband subscription and computer ownership/availability for counties. Higher broadband subscription and computer access generally correspond to higher email accessibility, while gaps indicate reliance on mobile-only access or limited use.
Age distribution from the American Community Survey is relevant because older populations have lower average adoption of some online services, including email, compared with working-age adults. Gender distribution is typically near parity in ACS county profiles and is not a primary driver of email adoption relative to access and age.
Connectivity limitations are commonly reflected in rural coverage and service-quality constraints documented in federal broadband mapping such as the FCC National Broadband Map.
Mobile Phone Usage
Murray County is in southwestern Minnesota along the Iowa border, with Slayton as the county seat. The county is predominantly rural and agricultural, characterized by flat to gently rolling prairie terrain and low population density. These factors generally affect mobile connectivity by increasing the distance between cell sites and reducing the economic incentives for dense network buildout compared with Minnesota’s metropolitan counties.
Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption
- Network availability refers to where mobile carriers report service coverage (e.g., 4G LTE or 5G) and where service is technically possible.
- Adoption refers to whether households and individuals actually subscribe to mobile service and use mobile internet as their primary or supplemental connection.
County-level reporting is stronger for availability than for adoption. Many widely cited adoption measures (device ownership, mobile-only households, smartphone share) are available at national and state levels but are often limited or suppressed at the county level due to sample size.
Mobile penetration or access indicators (availability and adoption)
Availability indicators (county-relevant sources)
The most consistent public dataset for county-relevant mobile availability is the Federal Communications Commission’s mobile broadband coverage reporting. The FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) publishes provider-reported coverage by technology, including mobile broadband, which can be explored on the FCC’s mapping platform: FCC National Broadband Map.
- The FCC map is an availability measure, not a subscription measure, and reflects provider filings that may differ from on-the-ground experience (signal strength, indoor coverage, congestion).
Minnesota’s statewide broadband office provides context and complementary mapping and planning resources (primarily emphasizing fixed broadband, but relevant for understanding overall connectivity constraints in rural areas): Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (DEED).
Adoption indicators (limits at county level)
- The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is the primary public source for household technology access and subscription metrics (such as whether a household has a cellular data plan). However, ACS estimates for small geographies can be limited by sampling variability, and some detailed technology estimates may be less reliable at the county level in sparsely populated areas. The ACS remains the standard reference for adoption concepts and methodology: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
- County-level “mobile penetration” is also commonly discussed through carrier subscription counts or proprietary datasets, but these are not typically published in a consistent, county-resolved manner for public reference.
Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G availability vs. use)
Reported 4G LTE and 5G availability (availability)
- In rural Minnesota counties such as Murray, 4G LTE is typically the baseline technology with the broadest reported footprint. Coverage is generally strongest along primary highways and around population centers, with weaker service possible in more remote areas and inside some buildings.
- 5G availability in rural counties is often present in a more limited pattern than LTE. Publicly visible FCC BDC layers distinguish mobile broadband technologies and can be used to identify where 5G is reported by providers within the county: FCC National Broadband Map (mobile availability layers).
- The FCC map is best used to distinguish where providers claim coverage rather than how consistently users experience 5G on typical devices.
Actual mobile internet use (adoption/behavior; county limitations)
- Public, county-specific metrics on how often residents use mobile internet, the share using mobile as a primary connection, or typical data consumption are generally not available from federal sources at reliable county granularity.
- ACS can indicate whether households report having a cellular data plan (adoption), but it does not directly measure 4G vs 5G usage behavior at the county level in a way that is comparable across carriers and device types. See ACS methodology and tables via data.census.gov.
Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)
- County-level device-type breakdowns (smartphone vs. basic phone vs. hotspot-only) are not consistently published in a comprehensive public dataset for Murray County.
- The most defensible public framing is that smartphones dominate mobile access in the U.S. overall, while rural areas can show greater variability in device replacement cycles and reliance on multi-purpose connectivity (smartphone plus home broadband, or smartphone as supplemental connectivity). County-specific shares should not be asserted without a locally representative survey or a published county-resolved dataset.
- For nationally standardized definitions of technology access and subscription concepts (including cellular data plans as part of household connectivity), ACS technical documentation provides the relevant measurement framework: ACS program documentation.
Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity
Rural settlement patterns and infrastructure economics (availability)
- Low population density increases the average distance between towers and reduces the number of customers per cell site, influencing coverage patterns and capacity. This typically results in:
- More reliance on macro-cell coverage rather than dense small-cell networks.
- Coverage differences between outdoor/mobile reception and indoor reception, especially in older building stock or metal-sided agricultural structures.
- The FCC’s mapping and challenge processes reflect the importance of granular location-by-location availability in rural counties: FCC Broadband Data Collection and maps.
Terrain and land use (availability)
- Murray County’s prairie landscape generally lacks large elevation changes compared with hillier regions, which can be favorable for line-of-sight propagation. However, long distances between sites and limited backhaul options still affect coverage and performance.
Age, income, and household composition (adoption; county limitations)
- Demographic factors such as age distribution, income, and household composition influence smartphone ownership and mobile plan subscription nationally and statewide, but precise Murray County-specific device adoption splits are not reliably available from a single consistent public source.
- The most appropriate public references for demographic context and household technology measures are:
- data.census.gov (ACS demographic and connectivity tables)
- Census QuickFacts (for general county demographics; connectivity detail is limited)
Data limitations and appropriate interpretation
- Availability data (FCC BDC) is the strongest public source for county-relevant mobile coverage, but it is provider-reported and does not directly quantify user experience, indoor coverage, or congestion.
- Adoption data (ACS) is conceptually aligned with “household subscription” and “cellular data plan” measures, but county-level precision can be constrained in low-population areas. It does not provide a direct county breakdown of 4G vs. 5G usage or smartphone vs. basic phone shares.
- County-level statements about “mobile penetration,” “smartphone share,” or “mobile-only internet reliance” require either:
- ACS tables that explicitly report those metrics at the county level with acceptable reliability, or
- A published county- or region-specific survey with documented methodology.
Local context references
- County civic context and geography (useful for understanding settlement patterns relevant to connectivity planning): Murray County, Minnesota official website
- State broadband planning and mapping context: Minnesota DEED Office of Broadband Development
- National mobile broadband availability layers and provider reporting: FCC National Broadband Map
Social Media Trends
Murray County is a rural county in southwestern Minnesota with Slayton as the county seat, a comparatively older age profile than many urban Minnesota counties, and an economy tied largely to agriculture and small local services. Lower population density and longer travel distances tend to increase the value of digital channels for community news, school and sports updates, local commerce, and maintaining social ties.
User statistics (penetration and active use)
- County-level social media penetration: Public, statistically reliable county-specific social media penetration estimates are generally not published by major survey organizations; most authoritative measurements are available at the U.S. level and by broad geographies (metro vs. non-metro), not individual counties.
- Best available proxy for Murray County (rural U.S. adults):
- Nationally, 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site (Pew Research Center, 2023): Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
- Social media use is lower among older adults and tends to be lower in non-metro areas than in urban/suburban areas; Murray County’s rural character and older median age are consistent with this pattern (Pew demographic breakouts in the same fact sheet).
Age group trends
Authoritative age patterns are most consistently documented at the national level:
- Highest social media usage: Adults 18–29 have the highest overall adoption across major platforms (Pew).
- Middle ages: Adults 30–49 remain high, typically second-highest across platforms (Pew).
- Lower usage, different platform mix: Adults 50–64 show moderate adoption; 65+ are lowest overall but have meaningful usage on certain platforms, especially Facebook (Pew).
- Implication for Murray County: A larger share of residents in older age brackets generally corresponds to higher relative importance of Facebook and lower relative usage of platforms that skew younger (e.g., TikTok, Snapchat), compared with statewide urban counties.
Gender breakdown
- Across the U.S., gender differences vary by platform and are often modest at the “any social media” level, but platform-specific differences are documented by Pew:
- Women tend to be more likely than men to use Pinterest and are slightly more likely to use some other platforms depending on the year and measure.
- Men can be more represented on certain discussion- or content-centric platforms, though patterns vary.
- Source for platform-by-gender distributions: Pew Research Center social media usage (gender breakouts).
Most-used platforms (percentages)
The most reliable percentages are national adult usage shares (Pew, 2023). These serve as a baseline; rural/older counties typically skew more toward Facebook than the national average.
- YouTube: 83% of U.S. adults
- Facebook: 68%
- Instagram: 47%
- Pinterest: 35%
- TikTok: 33%
- LinkedIn: 30%
- WhatsApp: 29%
- Snapchat: 27%
- X (formerly Twitter): 22%
Source: Pew Research Center platform adoption table.
Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)
- Community information and groups: Rural counties commonly rely on Facebook Pages and Groups for local news, event promotion, school activities, weather updates, and buy/sell exchanges; this aligns with Facebook’s broad adoption and older-skewing user base (Pew platform-by-age breakouts).
- Video-first consumption: YouTube’s very high penetration indicates broad use for how-to content, entertainment, local organization streams, and longer-form informational video; usage remains high across age groups relative to many other platforms (Pew).
- Short-form video growth (age-skewed): TikTok usage is substantially higher among younger adults than older adults, concentrating engagement in younger cohorts and shaping content toward short, vertically oriented video (Pew).
- Messaging and coordination: Platforms with strong messaging components (Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp nationally) are commonly used for group coordination and family communication; WhatsApp usage is meaningful nationally but varies strongly by demographic factors (Pew).
- Search and discovery behaviors: Many users encounter local services and announcements through platform search, shares, and algorithmic feeds rather than direct website visits, reinforcing the importance of frequent, timely posting for organizations.
Primary source note: County-specific social media penetration and platform shares for Murray County are not routinely released by reputable survey organizations due to sample-size and privacy constraints. The most defensible breakdown uses national benchmarks from Pew Research Center, interpreted through Murray County’s rural profile and older age distribution patterns documented in those same demographic tables.
Family & Associates Records
Murray County, Minnesota maintains vital (family) records such as birth and death certificates as part of Minnesota’s statewide vital records system. Local registration and certificate issuance are typically handled through the county vital records office; see the county directory and contacts on the Murray County, Minnesota official website. Minnesota birth records are generally restricted for an extended period, while death records become more widely available over time under state law and administrative rules.
Marriage records are recorded at the county level and are commonly available through the County Recorder’s office. Murray County provides access points for property and recording-related searches through its official site; use the Murray County Recorder page for office information and record services. Court-related family matters (such as divorce, paternity, guardianship, and adoption proceedings) are maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch; docket access is available through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), with additional access and copies available at the courthouse.
Public databases vary by record type: recorded land and some marriage indexes may be searchable, while certified vital records require an application and identity/eligibility verification. Adoption records and many juvenile/family court records are confidential or access-restricted, with disclosure controlled by statute and court order processes.
Marriage & Divorce Records
Types of records available
Marriage records (licenses and certificates)
- Marriage license application and license: Created and issued at the county level.
- Marriage certificate/record of marriage: The completed return recorded after the ceremony, maintained by the county and transmitted into the state vital records system.
Divorce records (decrees and case files)
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce) decrees/judgments: Issued by the court as part of a civil case.
- Divorce case register and related filings: Pleadings, findings, orders, and related documents retained as the official court case file.
Annulment records
- Marriage annulment judgments/orders: Handled as a district court matter (a civil action) and maintained in the court case file, similar to divorce records.
Where records are filed and how they can be accessed
Marriage records
- Filed/maintained by: Murray County Recorder (county-issued marriage records) and included in the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Office of Vital Records statewide system.
- Access methods:
- Murray County Recorder: Local certified copies and recorded information for marriages issued/recorded in the county.
- MDH Office of Vital Records: Statewide marriage records for eligible requestors, subject to state rules for certified copies.
- References:
Divorce and annulment records
- Filed/maintained by: Minnesota District Court for the county where the case was filed. Murray County is within Minnesota’s state trial court system; the court administrator maintains the official case record.
- Access methods:
- Court Administrator (district court): Copies of judgments/decrees and case documents, subject to court rules on public access and confidentiality.
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): Provides online access to register-of-actions summaries and some case information for many case types, with limitations on confidential/protected content.
- References:
Typical information included in these records
Marriage license and marriage record
Common fields include:
- Full legal names of both parties (and prior names when reported)
- Dates of birth/ages, and places of birth
- Addresses/residences at time of application
- Marital status (single/divorced/widowed) and number of prior marriages when reported
- Parents’ names and places of birth (often included on applications)
- Date and place (city/county) of marriage
- Officiant name/title and certification/authorization details
- Witness names (when required by the form used)
- Date the completed certificate was returned/recorded
Divorce decree/judgment (dissolution)
Common elements include:
- Court caption (judicial district, county, case number) and party names
- Date of judgment and entry
- Findings and conclusions supporting dissolution
- Orders on legal custody and parenting time (when minor children are involved)
- Child support, spousal maintenance, and income/expense findings (as applicable)
- Division of marital property and debts
- Name change orders (when granted)
- Other relief ordered by the court
Annulment judgment/order
Common elements include:
- Court caption (judicial district, county, case number) and party names
- Findings establishing the legal grounds for annulment under Minnesota law
- Orders addressing property, support, custody/parenting time (as applicable)
- Entry date and certification by the court
Privacy and legal restrictions
Marriage records
- Public access: Basic marriage facts and certified copies are governed by Minnesota vital records statutes and administrative rules. Access to certified marriage records is generally limited to persons with a recognized legal interest and others authorized by law; informational (non-certified) verification may be more broadly available depending on the request channel and record type.
- Identity verification: Government-issued identification and eligibility documentation are commonly required for certified copies through state vital records.
Divorce and annulment court records
- Presumption of public access with exceptions: Minnesota court records are generally public, but portions of divorce/annulment files can be confidential, sealed, or restricted by statute or court rule.
- Common confidential/protected data:
- Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain identifying information
- Addresses and contact information protected by court order or specific protections
- Records involving certain categories such as protected identities, some evaluations, and certain child-related or sensitive filings, depending on the document and governing rules
- Access limits via online systems: MCRO and similar tools omit or restrict confidential content and may provide summaries rather than full documents for some case materials.
Education, Employment and Housing
Murray County is a rural county in southwest Minnesota on the Buffalo Ridge, with its county seat in Slayton and small regional centers including Fulda. The population is small and dispersed across farms and small towns, and community life is closely tied to K–12 schools, agriculture-related businesses, local healthcare, and county services. (County context and many of the statistics below are commonly reported through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Minnesota state agency dashboards.)
Education Indicators
Public schools (number and names)
Murray County’s public K–12 education is primarily provided by two independent public school districts operating local school campuses:
- Murray County Central (MCC) Schools (Slayton)
- Fulda Public Schools (Fulda)
School-building names can vary by local usage and consolidation (elementary/high school housed in single campuses is common in rural districts). For the most current district-operated school list and profiles, Minnesota maintains district and school information through the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Data Center.
Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates
- Student–teacher ratios: Rural southwest Minnesota districts typically operate with low-to-moderate student–teacher ratios compared with metro areas due to smaller enrollments. A precise, countywide ratio is not published as a single value; the most defensible proxy is to use district-level staffing and enrollment in MDE’s public reporting (district profiles and staffing).
- Graduation rates: Minnesota reports 4-year cohort graduation rates by district and school. Murray County’s graduation outcomes are best represented by MCC and Fulda district graduation rate reports in MDE’s accountability files rather than a county aggregate. Statewide context and downloadable district/school graduation files are available through MDE’s Data Center.
Adult educational attainment (high school diploma; bachelor’s and higher)
Adult attainment is reported through the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS (5-year estimates are commonly used for small counties):
- High school diploma or higher (age 25+): ACS reports this for Murray County; rural counties in the region generally show high high-school completion relative to national averages.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): ACS reports this for Murray County; rural agricultural counties typically show lower bachelor’s attainment than Minnesota’s statewide rate, reflecting the region’s occupational structure (production, transportation, farming, and skilled trades).
County-specific attainment percentages are available in the U.S. Census Bureau profile tables for Murray County via data.census.gov (American Community Survey).
Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP/college credit)
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): Rural districts in southwest Minnesota commonly emphasize CTE pathways aligned with regional labor demand (agriculture mechanics, welding/manufacturing skills, business, health-related pathways). Minnesota CTE is supported and reported through MDE program areas and district course offerings rather than county-level summaries.
- College credit/accelerated coursework: Minnesota districts frequently offer concurrent enrollment (college credit) and/or Advanced Placement (AP) where staffing and enrollment permit, plus online coursework through regional cooperatives. District course catalogs and MDE program reporting are the most reliable sources for current availability.
School safety measures and counseling resources
- Safety: Minnesota districts typically operate with building access controls, visitor management, emergency drills, and coordination with local law enforcement and county emergency management. Minnesota also requires emergency operations planning elements at the district level.
- Student support: School counseling services are standard; access may be supplemented through regional education cooperatives and community mental-health providers due to rural staffing constraints.
Publicly posted district handbooks and MDE resources provide the most current safety and student-support policy details; statewide school safety guidance is compiled through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety / Homeland Security and Emergency Management and education-related policy reporting through MDE.
Employment and Economic Conditions
Unemployment rate (most recent year available)
County unemployment is published monthly and annually (annual averages) through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS program). The most recent official county figures are available via:
- Minnesota DEED Local labor force and unemployment data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
For rural southwest Minnesota counties, recent-year unemployment has generally remained low to moderate by historical standards, with seasonal variation tied to agriculture and construction. A single numeric rate for Murray County should be taken from the latest DEED annual average or the latest month of data.
Major industries and employment sectors
Murray County’s economy aligns with a rural southwest Minnesota profile:
- Agriculture and agribusiness (crop and livestock production; input supply; grain handling; related services)
- Manufacturing/processing (often food-related or light manufacturing in small towns)
- Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, county human services)
- Retail trade and local services
- Public administration and K–12 education
Industry employment mix by county is available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns and ACS commuting/industry tables (small-sample limitations apply in very small counties): ACS tables at data.census.gov.
Common occupations and workforce breakdown
Occupational distribution in rural counties typically skews toward:
- Management and office/administrative support (school, healthcare, county and business administration)
- Production, transportation, and material moving
- Installation, maintenance, and repair (trades supporting agriculture, utilities, and buildings)
- Sales and service occupations
- Farming, fishing, and forestry (smaller share of wage-and-salary jobs but important overall)
County occupational shares are published in ACS “Occupation” tables for resident workers: ACS occupation tables.
Commuting patterns and mean commute time
- Commute mode: Rural counties have high rates of driving alone, limited fixed-route transit, and some carpooling.
- Mean travel time to work: ACS reports mean commute time; rural southwest Minnesota often shows moderate commute times reflecting travel between farms, small towns, and regional service centers.
Local employment vs. out-of-county work
ACS “County-to-county commuting flows” and residence-vs.-workplace tables show that rural counties often have a substantial share of residents working outside the county, commuting to larger job centers in the region. The most defensible measure is the ACS “Place of Work” and “Flow” datasets accessible through Census commuting products and table downloads: ACS place-of-work and commuting flow data.
Housing and Real Estate
Homeownership rate and rental share
Murray County’s tenure profile is reported in ACS:
- Homeownership is typically high in rural Minnesota counties, reflecting single-family housing stock and long-term residency.
- Rental share is smaller and concentrated in Slayton, Fulda, and smaller multi-unit properties.
County tenure percentages are available in ACS “Tenure” tables: ACS housing tenure (owner/renter) tables.
Median property values and recent trends
- Median owner-occupied home value: ACS provides median value, and rural counties generally have lower median values than Minnesota’s metro counties.
- Recent trends: Minnesota experienced broad home-value increases in the early 2020s; rural areas often rose as well, though with more variability due to limited sales volume. For trend-sensitive valuation, the strongest public proxy is the ACS median value series over multiple 5-year releases, supplemented by county assessor data.
For valuation and trend context, use:
- ACS median home value tables
- Local assessment and sales ratio information via the Murray County official website (assessment and property information sections vary by county posting structure).
Typical rent prices
- Median gross rent: Reported in ACS for the county. Rural counties typically show lower median rents than statewide medians, with limited apartment inventory affecting prices.
See ACS “Gross Rent” tables: ACS rent tables.
Types of housing
- Single-family detached homes dominate in towns and rural residential areas.
- Farmsteads and rural lots remain a notable component of the housing landscape outside city limits.
- Small multifamily buildings and apartments exist primarily in Slayton and Fulda, often in low-rise formats, with some senior-oriented housing common in rural county seats.
ACS “Units in structure” tables quantify shares by structure type: ACS units-in-structure tables.
Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)
- Slayton: County-seat services (county offices, healthcare access, retail/services) and proximity to Murray County Central schools.
- Fulda: Small-town amenities and proximity to Fulda Public Schools.
- Rural areas: Larger lots and farm-adjacent properties with greater driving distances to schools, grocery, and healthcare; access is primarily by county/state roads.
Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)
Minnesota property taxes vary by classification (homestead vs. agricultural vs. commercial), city/township levies, school district levies, and voter-approved referenda. Countywide “average rate” is not a single stable value for homeowners; two practical, public measures are:
- Effective property tax as a share of home value (varies by jurisdiction and valuation)
- Median/average property tax paid by owner-occupied households (ACS includes “Real estate taxes paid” categories)
For authoritative levy and tax-capacity detail, refer to:
- Minnesota Department of Revenue property tax statistics
- County property tax and assessment information via the Murray County official website.
Data availability note: Because Murray County has a small population, the most statistically reliable public figures for education attainment, commuting, housing values, rents, and taxes are typically ACS 5‑year estimates, while K–12 performance is most reliable at the district/school level through MDE rather than county aggregates.
Table of Contents
Other Counties in Minnesota
- Aitkin
- Anoka
- Becker
- Beltrami
- Benton
- Big Stone
- Blue Earth
- Brown
- Carlton
- Carver
- Cass
- Chippewa
- Chisago
- Clay
- Clearwater
- Cook
- Cottonwood
- Crow Wing
- Dakota
- Dodge
- Douglas
- Faribault
- Fillmore
- Freeborn
- Goodhue
- Grant
- Hennepin
- Houston
- Hubbard
- Isanti
- Itasca
- Jackson
- Kanabec
- Kandiyohi
- Kittson
- Koochiching
- Lac Qui Parle
- Lake
- Lake Of The Woods
- Le Sueur
- Lincoln
- Lyon
- Mahnomen
- Marshall
- Martin
- Mcleod
- Meeker
- Mille Lacs
- Morrison
- Mower
- Nicollet
- Nobles
- Norman
- Olmsted
- Otter Tail
- Pennington
- Pine
- Pipestone
- Polk
- Pope
- Ramsey
- Red Lake
- Redwood
- Renville
- Rice
- Rock
- Roseau
- Saint Louis
- Scott
- Sherburne
- Sibley
- Stearns
- Steele
- Stevens
- Swift
- Todd
- Traverse
- Wabasha
- Wadena
- Waseca
- Washington
- Watonwan
- Wilkin
- Winona
- Wright
- Yellow Medicine