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

Local figures

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

534

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

1,653

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (77%)

60%

of Northfield homes have 3 or more bedrooms (67% in Rice County)

$11.41

Minnesota minimum wage per hour

About 534 Northfield 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. 60% of homes in Northfield have three or more bedrooms (67% in Rice County), while 14% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.9 rooms.

Of Northfield households headed by someone 65 or older, 1,653 own their home and 483 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 209 owners and 145 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Northfield compared with Rice County and Minnesota

Census figure	Northfield	Rice County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.6%	7.1%	8.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	14%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,104	$61,458	—

Older residents in towns around Northfield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Elko New Market, MN	11 mi	227	0
Faribault, MN	12 mi	4,113	639
Lonsdale, MN	13 mi	487	45
Farmington, MN	14 mi	1,932	233
Cannon Falls, MN	14 mi	922	164
Lakeville, MN	16 mi	8,099	590

Emergency hospitals near Northfield

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Northfield Hospital	Northfield, MN	0.3 mi	4 of 5	(507) 646-1004
Allina Health Faribault Medical Center	Faribault, MN	12 mi	3 of 5	(507) 334-6451
Mayo Clinic Health System - Cannon Falls	Cannon Falls, MN	15 mi	not rated	(507) 263-6000

Straight-line miles from the center of Northfield. 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 Northfield

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 (69% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield 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 (233% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield 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 Northfield: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Northfield?

Northfield Hospital in Northfield, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Northfield (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 646-1004. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Northfield?

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 (69% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield 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 (233% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield 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 Northfield?

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 Northfield 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 Northfield

More senior care near Northfield

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Northfield

More for Northfield 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 Northfield, MN