United States › Minnesota › Backus CITY
Backus Minnesota · 264 residents (2025 est.) · 0.62 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Backus is home to 291 people in Minnesota. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. The median age is 45.3, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $134,700, having roughly tripled since 2000. That trails the Minnesota median by roughly 37%. Median rent is $720 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 60%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 311 in 2000
264 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
469 / sq mi
−30%since 2009
from 669 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
226 277 329 381 432 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Backus Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $56,250
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,875 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,077 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 14.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$134,700
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$720
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $335 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 71.5% in 2000
29.5% rent
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.68 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.1%(305)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 66.7%(194)
Hispanic / Latino 3.8%(11)
from 21 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 74.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 79.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 19.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 54.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 35.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 73.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.4%(7)
Share of the 36 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Backus, Minnesota? Backus, Minnesota has about 291 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Backus, Minnesota? The typical household in Backus, Minnesota earns about $56,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Backus, Minnesota expensive? In Backus, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $134,700, and the typical rent is about $720 a month.
How educated are people in Backus, Minnesota? About 14.8% of adults age 25 and over in Backus, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Backus, Minnesota? About 17.9% of people in Backus, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Backus, Minnesota grown since 1990? Yes, Backus, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 48 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.
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