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CITY

Big Lake

Minnesota · 12,929 residents (2025 est.) · 7.234 sq mi
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The short version

Big Lake is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $120,549. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 6,304 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $330,200. At a median age of 32.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Poverty is rare here, at 5.6% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,367
+104%since 2000
from 6,063 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,710 / sq mi
+104%since 2000
from 838 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.5
+14%since 2000
from 28.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,929 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K5K8K11K13K1990201020202024Big Lake
202412K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$120,549
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,658 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,522
+125%since 2000
from $18,931 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
76.2%
+38.1 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.300
−3%since 2010
from 0.311 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade11.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$330,200
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,340
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $536 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
86.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.3% in 2000
13.1% rent
Vacancy rate
3.0%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.8%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.9%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+14%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(5,811)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(109)
Asian0.4%(26)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.9%(357)
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(10,323)
Black4.3%(527)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(884)
Asian2%(243)
Other3.2%(390)
Diversity Score36.9%(4,559)
Diversity Score
37
+526%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.8%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 88.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.2 min
+37%since 2000
from 24.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.9%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 86.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.6%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
80.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 82.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.8%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
5.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2012
from 9.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.5%
−85.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.9%
+7.2 ptssince 2017
from 88.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 91.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2016
from 7.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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BIG LAKE VS
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BIG LAKE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Lake, Minnesota?

Big Lake, Minnesota has about 12,367 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Big Lake, Minnesota earns about $120,549 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Big Lake, Minnesota expensive?

In Big Lake, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $330,200, and the typical rent is about $1,340 a month.

How educated are people in Big Lake, Minnesota?

About 26.8% of adults age 25 and over in Big Lake, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Big Lake, Minnesota?

About 5.6% of people in Big Lake, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Big Lake, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Big Lake, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,310 residents, a change of about 305 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →