Live-In Caregivers in Mankato, MN: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Mankato, MN: the local picture

979

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

2,579

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (74%)

59%

of Mankato homes have 3 or more bedrooms (65% in Blue Earth County)

$11.41

Minnesota minimum wage per hour

About 979 Mankato residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 59% of homes in Mankato have three or more bedrooms (65% in Blue Earth County), while 15% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.6 rooms.

Of Mankato households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,579 own their home and 923 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 257 owners and 280 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Mankato compared with Blue Earth County and Minnesota

Census figure	Mankato	Blue Earth County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	6.6%	8.8%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	7.7%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,512	$60,404	—

Older residents in towns around Mankato

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
North Mankato, MN	3.3 mi	2,411	307
Eagle Lake, MN	4.7 mi	357	13
St. Peter, MN	11 mi	2,032	448
Lake Crystal, MN	13 mi	501	29
Le Center, MN	19 mi	347	49
Le Sueur, MN	21 mi	788	102

Emergency hospitals near Mankato

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato	Mankato, MN	1.8 mi	5 of 5	(507) 625-4031
River's Edge Hospital & Clinic	St Peter, MN	11 mi	not rated	(507) 931-2200
Minnesota Valley Health Center Inc	Le Sueur, MN	20 mi	not rated	(507) 665-3375

Straight-line miles from the center of Mankato. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a live-in caregiver can help with

Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
Medication reminders and appointment rides
Companionship and a steady routine

Cost

What live-in care costs in Mankato

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.45 an hour (the Minnesota median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,998 a month (81% of the $4,959 monthly median income of Mankato households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,432 a month (271% of the $4,959 monthly median income of Mankato households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in Mankato: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Mankato?

Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato in Mankato, about 1.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Mankato (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 625-4031. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Mankato?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.45 an hour (the Minnesota median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,998 a month (81% of the $4,959 monthly median income of Mankato households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,432 a month (271% of the $4,959 monthly median income of Mankato households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Mankato?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in Mankato it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

More near Mankato

More senior care near Mankato

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Mankato

More for Mankato families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Live-In Caregivers in Mankato, MN