United States › Minnesota › Detroit Lakes CITY
Detroit Lakes Minnesota · 10,019 residents (2025 est.) · 11.8 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
With 10,025 people, Detroit Lakes is a city in Minnesota. Growth has run 36% since 2000, or 2,677 more people. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 14 minutes. Households here earn about 29% less than in Minnesota as a whole. Owners hold 56% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 83%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 7,348 in 2000
10,019 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
853 / sq mi
+23%since 2009
from 693 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K 7K 8K 9K 10K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Detroit Lakes Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $62,958
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,264 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,509 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.2%
Public administration 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Education & health services 0.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$265,800
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$954
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 64.4% in 2000
43.9% rent
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.6 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 91.5%(6,723)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(88)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 88%(8,826)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(79)
from 26 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
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 83.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 36.3%(1,412)
Women 15+
Never married 26.8%(1,151)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 16.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 46.2% 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) 22.1%(147)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.7%(84)
Share of the 664 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Detroit Lakes Head to head
Compare Detroit Lakes to nearby cities DETROIT LAKES VS
Fergus Falls
Income $56,162 −11%
Home value $194,000 −27%
Population 14,246 +42%
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DETROIT LAKES VS
Moorhead
Income $72,761 +16%
Home value $249,000 −6%
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DETROIT LAKES VS
Fargo
Income $66,998 +6%
Home value $281,900 +6%
Population 136,275 +1260%
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DETROIT LAKES VS
West Fargo
Income $90,665 +44%
Home value $321,900 +21%
Population 41,175 +311%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota? Detroit Lakes, Minnesota has about 10,025 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota? The typical household in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota earns about $62,958 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Detroit Lakes, Minnesota expensive? In Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $265,800, and the typical rent is about $954 a month.
How educated are people in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota? About 32.8% of adults age 25 and over in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota? About 16.6% of people in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Detroit Lakes, Minnesota grown since 1990? Yes, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,390 residents, a change of about 51 percent over that period.
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