CensusEasy
CITY

Battle Lake

Minnesota · 930 residents (2025 est.) · 1.437 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Fergus Falls micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Battle Lake has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,375. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $257,600. With a median age of 57.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 33% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 95%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
786
+15%since 2000
from 686 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
547 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 477 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
57.9
+21%since 2000
from 48.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:930 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6247158078989901990201020202024Battle Lake
2024786
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,375
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,000 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,641
+141%since 2000
from $17,269 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.8%
+24.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.5%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
−7%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services8.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade6.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5%
US avg: 1.2%
Information4.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$257,600
+95%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,052
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.9%
−16.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.3% in 2000
38.1% rent
Vacancy rate
20.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+49%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
70
RELATED:See current rent listings in Battle Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(670)
Black0.3%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(10)
Asian0.4%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.4%(37)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(716)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(60)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.3%(10)
Diversity Score20.5%(161)
Diversity Score
21
+281%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.4%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.2%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+55%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.7%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
1.0%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.1%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
24.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.9%
−22.7 ptssince 2009
from 61.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
55.6%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.7%
−33.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2012
from 19.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−93.4 ptssince 2013
from 96.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.7%
+5.0 ptssince 2017
from 75.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Battle Lake

Southport
Pop 873
Newport
Pop 906
Dagsboro
Pop 983
Page Park
Pop 917
Places similar to Battle Lake
Head to head

Compare Battle Lake to nearby cities

BATTLE LAKE VS
Fergus Falls
Income$56,162−5%
Home value$194,000−25%
Population14,246+1432%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE LAKE VS
Alexandria
Income$61,374+3%
Home value$275,300+7%
Population15,045+1518%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE LAKE VS
Detroit Lakes
Income$62,958+6%
Home value$265,800+3%
Population10,019+977%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE LAKE VS
Wahpeton
Income$62,750+6%
Home value$171,300−34%
Population8,141+775%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Battle Lake, Minnesota?

Battle Lake, Minnesota has about 786 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Battle Lake, Minnesota?

The typical household in Battle Lake, Minnesota earns about $59,375 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Battle Lake, Minnesota expensive?

In Battle Lake, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $257,600, and the typical rent is about $1,052 a month.

How educated are people in Battle Lake, Minnesota?

About 28.0% of adults age 25 and over in Battle Lake, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Battle Lake, Minnesota?

About 6.5% of people in Battle Lake, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Battle Lake, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Battle Lake, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 88 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Battle Lake with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →