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City · 40,992 residents · Washington County, Minnesota

Cottage Grove , Minnesota

In Cottage Grove, a typical home is worth $378,800 and typical rent is $1,783 a month. Compared with all of Washington County, the typical home value is 10% lower and the share of households that own their home is 7 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $378,800

    10% below the county

    15% above Minnesota

    • Cottage Grove
    • Washington
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $1,783a month

    4% above the county

    39% above Minnesota

    • Cottage Grove
    • Washington
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $120,791a year

    5% above the county

    36% above Minnesota

    • Cottage Grove
    • Washington
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    88%

    7 points above the county

    16 points above Minnesota

    • Cottage Grove
    • Washington
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$397,173
1.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,827 a month
2.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Cottage Grove is in Washington County. The FHA loan limit ($552,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Washington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Cottage Grove apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Hastings, the typical rent is $1,183: 34% less than in Cottage Grove ($1,783).

  2. Nearby, in St. Paul Park, the typical home value is $263,500: 30% less than in Cottage Grove ($378,800).

  3. 88% of households in Cottage Grove own their home, against 81% in Washington County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Cottage Grove

What homes there are in Cottage Grove, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Cottage Grove: 78% of homes, more than in Washington County (67%).

Year built

The typical year built in Cottage Grove is 1990, about the same as in Washington County (1992).

There is more room for a big family here: 83% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 71% in Washington County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,254 a month

Washington County: $2,275 a month

Without a mortgage

$746 a month

Washington County: $809 a month

Owners with a mortgage

72%

Washington County: 69%

Owning costs about the same in Cottage Grove as in Washington County: with a mortgage, $2,254 a month; without one, $746.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Cottage Grove gained value faster than in Washington County: 52% against 46%.

Rents in Cottage Grove rose at about the same pace as in Washington County: 33% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

The typical household income in Cottage Grove rose 18%: less than home values (+52%) and rent (+33%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCottage GroveWashington CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.3%5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.6%1.5%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.842.582.432.53
Drive alone 69%66%69%69%
Carpool 8%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 21%24%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Cottage Grove, 1.6% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Washington County.

More people live in each home here: 2.84 on average, against 2.58 in Washington County.

To get to work, 69% of workers in Cottage Grove drive alone; in Washington County, 66%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Cottage Grove?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Cottage Grove, worth $378,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Cottage Grove, which is $120,791 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $136,134 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Washington County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Cottage Grove. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,258 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,176

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$371,939
Total interest
$535,133
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,397 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,818 a month

  • Tight

    $2,818 to $3,624 a month

    Your payment · 32%

  • Hard

    more than $3,624 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Cottage Grove ($120,791 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,176
Principal & interest$2,520
Property tax$331
Home insurance$158
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$168

You need at least $13,258 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Cottage Grove and Washington County

Cottage Grove is in Washington County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Cottage Grove's own numbers

Typical home value
$378,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,783
Typical yearly household income
$120,791
Households that own their home
88%
Effective property tax rate
1.05%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Washington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$552,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,734
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+35%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Washington County.

Everything about Washington County

Buying

Buying a home in Cottage Grove

A typical home in Cottage Grove is worth $378,800: 10% below the county and 15% above Minnesota. With the typical household income in Cottage Grove ($120,791 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Cottage Grove 3.1 years
  • Washington 3.7 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washington County rose 69% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Washington County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.8% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +35% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +69% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Cottage Grove next to Washington County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Cottage Grove $378,800
  • Washington $422,000
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Cottage Grove $1,783
  • Washington $1,710
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Cottage Grove $120,791
  • Washington $115,345
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Cottage Grove next to Washington County and Minnesota
Measure Cottage Grove Washington County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $378,800 $422,000 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,783 $1,710 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $120,791 $115,345 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 88% 81% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,994 $4,164 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.05% 0.99% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 51% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washington County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Cottage Grove

For a typical $378,800 home in Cottage Grove, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Cottage Grove's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,176a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,258
    Cash to close
    $24,622
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $168

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,107a month

    Down payment
    $18,940
    Cash to close
    $30,304
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $180

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,542a month

    Down payment
    $75,760
    Cash to close
    $87,124
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,892a month

    Down payment
    $56,820
    Cash to close
    $68,184
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Cottage Grove and for Washington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Cottage Grove

1.05%of the home’s value each year

$3,994 a year for the typical owner in Cottage Grove.

  • Cottage Grove 1.05%
  • Washington 0.99%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Washington County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Washington County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.6%
580
Of those, with NFIP insurance
22%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.6% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 22% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Cottage Grove

Typical rent in Cottage Grove is $1,783 a month: 4% above the county. In Cottage Grove, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Washington County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,734 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Washington County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,265 $24.33 $50,600
1 bedroom $1,427 $27.44 $57,080
2 bedrooms $1,734 $33.35 $69,360
3 bedrooms $2,264 $43.54 $90,560
4 bedrooms $2,538 $48.81 $101,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Cottage Grove

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Cottage Grove is in ZIP code 55016.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,080: $346 more than the fair market rent for Washington County ($1,734).

  • 55016 $2,080$2,720

A ZIP code counts for Cottage Grove when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Cottage Grove

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Cottage Grove. These are the largest.

  • Legends of Cottage Grove 6999 E Point Douglas Rd S, Cottage Grove 55016 184 low-income homes · 1 bd: 70 · 2 bd: 78 · 3 bd: 36 · In service since 2017 · For older adults
  • The Groves Apartments 7752 Hemingway Ave S, Cottage Grove 55016 68 low-income homes · 3 bd: 68 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Woodmount Townhouses 8801 90th St S, Cottage Grove 55016 50 low-income homes · For families (651) 459-6748
  • Bluestem Apartments 7601 79th St S, Cottage Grove 55016 52 homes, 36 low-income · For families

See all 56 buildings in Washington County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Cottage Grove

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Washington County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Cottage Grove

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Cottage Grove or Washington County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Cottage Grove the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Cottage Grove

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Cottage Grove, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Washington County Community Development Agency

    7645 Currell Blvd, Woodbury · 8 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (651) 202-2822

  • Neighborhood Development Alliance

    481 Wabasha St S, Saint Paul · 12 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (651) 292-0131

  • Dakota County Community Development Agency

    1228 Town Centre Dr, Eagan · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (651) 675-4400

Every agency in Washington County All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Cottage Grove

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Cottage Grove

HUD’s record names them for Cottage Grove or Washington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Washington County Cda Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (651) 458-0936

All housing agencies in Minnesota Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washington County

These cities are also in Washington County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washington County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Cottage Grove, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Washington County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Cottage Grove.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Cottage Grove

Short answers with the numbers for Cottage Grove and all of Washington County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Cottage Grove?

The typical home value in Cottage Grove is $378,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washington County it is $422,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Cottage Grove?

Typical rent in Cottage Grove is $1,783 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washington County is $1,734.

What is the FHA loan limit in Cottage Grove?

Cottage Grove uses the FHA limit for all of Washington County (2026): $552,000 for a one-unit home and $1,061,550 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Cottage Grove?

The typical homeowner in Cottage Grove pays $3,994 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.05% of the home’s value; in Washington County, the rate is 0.99%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Cottage Grove?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Washington County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).