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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Empire, MN Housing Affordability Index

Empire, Minnesota has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 111.0 (More Affordable Than Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 544th most affordable of 809 scored Minnesota cities, compared with 97.5 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $469,500 home with 20% down, the Minnesota average 30-year fixed rate of 7.27% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $2,566, or 21% of the city’s $147,700 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Empire is updated every night from live Minnesota mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Empire MBR-HAI 111.0 More Affordable Than Average
Rank in Minnesota 544 of 809 1 = most affordable
Minnesota 97.5 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.27% Minnesota lenders
Median home value $469,500 U.S. Census Bureau

Empire is 13.5 points above the Minnesota score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Minnesota index

View Empire Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Empire

$2,566/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.27%
$110,000
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$147,700
Median Household Income
Minnesota: $89,062
3.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Minnesota: 3.7x
$2,389/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$4,521/yr
Median Property Tax
0.96% of median value
15.3%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
24.1%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Empire, Minnesota. The rate is the Minnesota average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Empire Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Empire, Minnesota score: 111.0 (More Affordable Than Average), ranked 544 of 809 Minnesota cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/minnesota/empire”