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CITY · 2020 ACS

Detroit Lakes

Minnesota · 9,869 residents · 11.755 sq mi
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The short version

Detroit Lakes has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,185. Population has grown 34% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $188,500. Households here earn about 30% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,869
+34%since 2000
from 7,348 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
41.4
Unchangedsince 2000
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K9K10K1990201020202024Detroit Lakes
202410K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(582)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(606)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.5%(645)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(563)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(527)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.6%(1,239)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.4%(1,130)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 549.3%(919)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.9%(1,270)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.7%(1,155)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.1%(800)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over4.4%(433)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,185
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,264 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,164
+106%since 2000
from $18,509 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.8%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade14.1%
US avg: 10%
Information8.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$188,500
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$760
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
58.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2000
from 64.4% in 2000
41.8% rent
Afford Score
3.7
+2%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Detroit Lakes on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(6,723)
Black0.4%(29)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(88)
Asian0.5%(39)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(8,331)
Black1.3%(124)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(239)
Asian1%(98)
Other7.1%(698)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(90)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.6%(52)
Chinese0.3%(28)
Japanese0.1%(7)
Hmong0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German40.3%(3,721)
Norwegian28.5%(2,630)
Irish8.3%(764)
Swedish6.1%(562)
Finnish4.3%(393)
Polish3.7%(337)
English3.5%(323)
Italian3.2%(296)
American2.2%(201)
Dutch2%(186)
French1.7%(158)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.1%(104)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(82)
Danish0.7%(69)
Scottish0.7%(65)
Russian0.5%(47)
Hungarian0.3%(29)
Welsh0.2%(20)
Ukrainian0.2%(16)
Swiss0.2%(14)
British0.1%(9)
Croatian0.1%(9)
Lebanese0.1%(8)
Lithuanian0.1%(8)
Haitian0.1%(8)
Greek0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Finnish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.5%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.9%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
+2%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
66.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2011
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.3%
−30.3 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
Female
55.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.1%
−86.2 ptssince 2013
from 91.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married36.3%(1,412)
Married49%(1,906)
Widowed2.8%(109)
Divorced11.8%(460)
Women 15+
Never married26.8%(1,151)
Married47.1%(2,023)
Widowed12.4%(535)
Divorced13.7%(589)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Detroit Lakes to nearby cities

DETROIT LAKES VS
Fergus Falls
Income$56,162+10%
Home value$194,000+3%
Population14,246+42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
Moorhead
Income$72,761+42%
Home value$249,000+32%
Population46,533+364%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
Fargo
Income$66,998+31%
Home value$281,900+50%
Population136,275+1260%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
West Fargo
Income$90,665+77%
Home value$321,900+71%
Population41,175+311%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota has about 9,869 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?

The typical household in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota earns about $51,185 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 $188,500, and the typical rent is about $760 a month.

How educated are people in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?

About 30.5% 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 11.8% 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 3,234 residents, a change of about 49 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 →