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City · 21,378 residents · Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Willmar , Minnesota

In Willmar, a typical home is worth $198,400 and typical rent is $910 a month. Compared with all of Kandiyohi County, typical household income is 19% lower, the typical home value is 18% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $198,400

    18% below the county

    40% below Minnesota

    • Willmar
    • Kandiyohi
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $910a month

    About the same as the county

    29% below Minnesota

    • Willmar
    • Kandiyohi
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $62,280a year

    19% below the county

    30% below Minnesota

    • Willmar
    • Kandiyohi
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    13 points below the county

    13 points below Minnesota

    • Willmar
    • Kandiyohi
    • Minnesota

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$245,464
0.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$912 a month

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

Willmar is in Kandiyohi County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Kandiyohi County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Willmar apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Montevideo, the typical home value is $141,000: 29% less than in Willmar ($198,400).

  2. 59% of households in Willmar own their home, against 73% in Kandiyohi County.

  3. The typical household income in Willmar is $62,280, 19% less than in Kandiyohi County as a whole ($76,592).

  4. The typical home in Willmar is worth $198,400, 18% less than in Kandiyohi County as a whole ($243,200).

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

The homes here

Housing in Willmar

What homes there are in Willmar, 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

Detached houses are the majority in Willmar (57%), but less so than in Kandiyohi County (73%).

Year built

By age, homes in Willmar look like those in Kandiyohi County: the typical year built is 1978.

There are fewer big homes in Willmar than in Kandiyohi County: 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

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

At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Willmar are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Kandiyohi County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 62% of rented homes in Willmar cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Kandiyohi County ($1,026); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,407 a month

Kandiyohi County: $1,574 a month

Without a mortgage

$645 a month

Kandiyohi County: $672 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Kandiyohi County: 59%

Owning costs less in Willmar: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,407 a month; in Kandiyohi County, $1,574. Without one, $645.

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 Willmar gained value faster than in Kandiyohi County: 49% against 44%.

The typical rent in Willmar rose 16% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Kandiyohi County (17%).

To compare: typical income in Willmar rose 30%; the home, +49%; the rent, +16%.

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

MeasureWillmarKandiyohi CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.442.432.432.53
Drive alone 79%80%69%69%
Carpool 9%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 8%9%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Willmar look like those in Kandiyohi County: 2.44 people on average.

To get to work, 79% of workers in Willmar drive alone; in Kandiyohi County, 80%.

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 Willmar?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Willmar, worth $198,400, 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 Willmar, which is $62,280 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $71,089 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Willmar. 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 $6,944 (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

$1,659

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$194,806
Total interest
$280,281
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,350 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,453 a month

  • Tight

    $1,453 to $1,868 a month

    Your payment · 32%

  • Hard

    more than $1,868 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Willmar ($62,280 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,659
Principal & interest$1,320
Property tax$169
Home insurance$83
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$88

You need at least $6,944 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

Willmar and Kandiyohi County

Willmar is in Kandiyohi 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).

Willmar's own numbers

Typical home value
$198,400
Typical monthly rent
$910
Typical yearly household income
$62,280
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
1.02%

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

Numbers for all of Kandiyohi County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,026
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

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 Kandiyohi County.

Everything about Kandiyohi County

Buying

Buying a home in Willmar

A typical home in Willmar is worth $198,400: 18% below the county and 40% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in Willmar ($62,280 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 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.

  • Willmar 3.2 years
  • Kandiyohi 3.2 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Kandiyohi County

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

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

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.9% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +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

Willmar next to Kandiyohi 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
  • Willmar $198,400
  • Kandiyohi $243,200
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Willmar $910
  • Kandiyohi $909
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Willmar $62,280
  • Kandiyohi $76,592
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Willmar next to Kandiyohi County and Minnesota
Measure Willmar Kandiyohi County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $198,400 $243,200 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $910 $909 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,280 $76,592 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 73% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,031 $2,492 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.02% 1.02% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 41% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kandiyohi 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 Willmar

For a typical $198,400 home in Willmar, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Willmar's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,659a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,944
    Cash to close
    $12,896
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $88

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,622a month

    Down payment
    $9,920
    Cash to close
    $15,872
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $94

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,327a month

    Down payment
    $39,680
    Cash to close
    $45,632
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,510a month

    Down payment
    $29,760
    Cash to close
    $35,712
    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 Willmar and for Kandiyohi County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Willmar

1.02%of the home’s value each year

$2,031 a year for the typical owner in Willmar.

  • Willmar 1.02%
  • Kandiyohi 1.02%
  • 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 Kandiyohi County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
96
Of those, with NFIP insurance
10%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 10% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Willmar

Typical rent in Willmar is $910 a month: about the same as the county. In Willmar, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kandiyohi County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,026 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.73 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Kandiyohi 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 $831 $15.98 $33,240
1 bedroom $836 $16.08 $33,440
2 bedrooms $1,026 $19.73 $41,040
3 bedrooms $1,421 $27.33 $56,840
4 bedrooms $1,715 $32.98 $68,600

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 Willmar

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Willmar is in ZIP code 56201.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $6 less than the fair market rent for Kandiyohi County ($1,026).

  • 56201 $1,020$1,410

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Willmar 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 Willmar

HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Willmar. These are the largest.

  • Lakeview Apartments 300 7th St NW, Willmar 56201 174 low-income homes · Run by Kandiyohi County Hra · Average payment: $458 a month · Average wait: 6 months · Homes at several sites (320) 235-8637
  • Somerset, Eagle Ridge, - Waters Edge Apts Multiple Building Addresses. (see Buildings Tab), Willmar 56201 144 low-income homes · 1 bd: 11 · 2 bd: 95 · 3 bd: 38 · In service since 2014
  • Highland Apartments 115 Becker Ave SE, Willmar 56201 79 low-income homes · 1 bd: 78 · In service since 2015 · For older adults, people with disabilities (320) 235-8637
  • Dana Heights Apartments Multiple Building Addresses, Willmar 56201 48 low-income homes · In service since 1992
  • Valleyside Townhomes Multiple Building Addresses, Willmar 56201 48 homes, 47 low-income · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 23 · In service since 1999

See all 12 buildings in Kandiyohi County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Willmar

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 Kandiyohi County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Willmar

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Willmar or Kandiyohi County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Willmar 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 Willmar

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

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    1601 Hwy 12 E, Willmar · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

  • Scott County Community Development Agency

    100 5th Ave E, Shakopee · 78 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (952) 402-9022

  • Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County

    7101 Northland Cir N, Brooklyn Park · 81 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (952) 697-1303

Every agency in Kandiyohi County All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Willmar

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 Willmar

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

  • Kandiyohi County Hra Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (320) 235-8637

One other authority has an office in Kandiyohi County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Willmar, with the typical home value.

Everything about Kandiyohi County Housing in Minnesota

Neighboring counties

If Kandiyohi 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 Willmar.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Willmar

Short answers with the numbers for Willmar and all of Kandiyohi 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 Willmar?

The typical home value in Willmar is $198,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kandiyohi County it is $243,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Willmar?

Typical rent in Willmar is $910 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kandiyohi County is $1,026.

What is the FHA loan limit in Willmar?

Willmar uses the FHA limit for all of Kandiyohi County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Willmar?

The typical homeowner in Willmar pays $2,031 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.02% of the home’s value; in Kandiyohi County, the rate is 1.02%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Kandiyohi 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).