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CITY

Albert Lea

Minnesota · 18,217 residents (2025 est.) · 13.285 sq mi
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The short version

Albert Lea has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,603. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $157,500. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 27% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,330
Unchangedsince 2000
from 18,356 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,380 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1,382 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+8%since 2000
from 41.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,217 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K18K18K19K1990201020202024Albert Lea
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,603
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,841 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,282
+118%since 2000
from $17,979 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.4%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+13%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$157,500
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$857
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $366 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
25.9% rent
Vacancy rate
8.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+15%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Albert Lea on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(16,237)
Black0.3%(54)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(1,740)
Asian0.8%(140)
Other0%
Diversity Score24%(4,412)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.1%(13,940)
Black2.3%(427)
Hispanic / Latino14.7%(2,694)
Asian4.9%(891)
Other2.1%(378)
Diversity Score49.6%(9,090)
Diversity Score
50
+106%since 2000
from 24 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.4%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+51%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 62.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.5%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
5.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.1%
−81.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+14.1 ptssince 2017
from 71.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 88.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 8.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Albert Lea, Minnesota?

Albert Lea, Minnesota has about 18,330 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Albert Lea, Minnesota?

The typical household in Albert Lea, Minnesota earns about $64,603 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Albert Lea, Minnesota expensive?

In Albert Lea, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $157,500, and the typical rent is about $857 a month.

How educated are people in Albert Lea, Minnesota?

About 17.4% of adults age 25 and over in Albert Lea, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Albert Lea, Minnesota?

About 12.8% of people in Albert Lea, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Albert Lea, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Albert Lea, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20 residents, a change of about 0 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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