 About 6.10% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.As of 2016 Blue Earth County has voted for the winning presidential candidate in 12 of the last 14 elections, the exceptions being 1988 and 2004.Since 1988 it has tilted toward the Democratic Party, but in 2000 and 2016 it voted for the Republican candidates.