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CITY

Cottage Grove

Minnesota · 43,604 residents (2025 est.) · 33.64 sq mi
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The short version

Cottage Grove is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $120,791. Population has grown 34% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $378,800. Poverty is rare here, at 4.2% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 36% more than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
40,992
+34%since 2000
from 30,582 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,219 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 909 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
+14%since 2000
from 31.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:43,604 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K27K32K37K43K1990201020202024Cottage Grove
202441K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$120,791
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,825 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,540
+112%since 2000
from $23,348 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
76.2%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.354
+9%since 2010
from 0.326 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$378,800
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $137,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,783
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $804 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 91.4% in 2000
11.8% rent
Vacancy rate
0.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.4%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+50%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cottage Grove on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(28,196)
Black2.3%(699)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(775)
Asian1.4%(434)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.2%(4,638)
2024
White, non-Hispanic73.6%(30,150)
Black6.1%(2,513)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(3,130)
Asian7.3%(3,000)
Other5.4%(2,199)
Diversity Score55.2%(22,607)
Diversity Score
55
+264%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.8%
+16.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 94.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.3%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+46%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.2%
−14.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.1%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
73.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 77.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.0%
−16.9 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−44.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 8.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.7%
−90.5 ptssince 2013
from 93.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2017
from 89.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.2%
−5.9 ptssince 2016
from 91.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Cottage Grove to nearby cities

COTTAGE GROVE VS
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Income$93,998−22%
Home value$322,400−15%
Population22,563−48%
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COTTAGE GROVE VS
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Income$125,310+4%
Home value$450,200+19%
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COTTAGE GROVE VS
Inver Grove Heights
Income$101,316−16%
Home value$363,400−4%
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COTTAGE GROVE VS
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Income$87,994−27%
Home value$281,600−26%
Population20,532−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cottage Grove, Minnesota?

Cottage Grove, Minnesota has about 40,992 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cottage Grove, Minnesota?

The typical household in Cottage Grove, Minnesota earns about $120,791 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cottage Grove, Minnesota expensive?

In Cottage Grove, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $378,800, and the typical rent is about $1,783 a month.

How educated are people in Cottage Grove, Minnesota?

About 40.8% of adults age 25 and over in Cottage Grove, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cottage Grove, Minnesota?

About 4.2% of people in Cottage Grove, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cottage Grove, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Cottage Grove, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 18,057 residents, a change of about 79 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 →

Cottage Grove, Minnesota: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy