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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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PLACEThriving

Bluffton, MN

Thriving overall. Jobs is the clearest support signal, while gdp / output needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score91out of 100
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70
100
100
86
100

Population

263

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+4.5% YoY

70

$3.3B

Output changed +4.5% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.1%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

100

0.0%

Unemployment is 0.0% for Latest available.

Vintage date unknown

State avg4.1%
U.S. avg5.2%

Population

+20.6% 5-year

100

263

Population moved +20.6% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population5,739,445
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

86

9.9%

Median rent consumes 9.9% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$1.3K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$10.0K per resident

100

$600.3M

$600.3M in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$242.1B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$600.3M

$10.0K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$402.4M
2. Department of Agriculture$69.4M
3. Department of Veterans Affairs$53.9M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. BONGARDS CREAMERIES$39.8M
2. MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$29.9M
3. REDACTED DUE TO PII$27.8M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

9.9%

of median income

1BR estimate$677
2BR estimate$891
Median income$100,417
Median home value$182,300

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

263

Median age

24.8

Bachelor's degree+

18.6%

Poverty rate

2.3%

Labor force participation

82.4%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

Latest available

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-30

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+3.8%

GDP CAGR

+5.6%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
2020218
2021243
2022253
2023260
2024263
GDP (5 years)
2020$2.5B
2021$2.8B
2022$3.0B
2023$3.1B
2024$3.3B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

2024263
2025280 *
2026290 *

R² = 86.9% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$3.3B
2025$3.5B *
2026$3.7B *

R² = 96.8% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$100,417/yr
Median rent$825/mo
Rent share of income9.9%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$11,062/yr
Mortgage share of income11.0%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate0.0%
State avg4.1%
U.S. avg5.2%
Labor force participation82.4%
Poverty rate2.3%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. Latest available.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$182,300
Median monthly rent$825
Price-to-rent ratio18.4x

Moderate price-to-rent ratio — buying and renting are roughly balanced in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateStrong
Composite score89/100
Economic growth70/100
Labor market100/100
Population momentum100/100
Overall stability91/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Bluffton city, Minnesota

City/Town

Part of

Fergus Falls, MN

Nearby locations

Wadena, MNDeer Creek, MNNew York Mills, MNVerndale, MNHewitt, MN