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CITY

Elbow Lake

Minnesota · 1,276 residents (2025 est.) · 1.384 sq mi
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The short version

Elbow Lake has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,792. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $126,900. Households here earn about 33% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,301
+2%since 2000
from 1,275 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
940 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 921 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.6
−5%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,276 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K1K1K1990201020202024Elbow Lake
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,792
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,441 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,931
+88%since 2000
from $16,429 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.7%
+25.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+15%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$126,900
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$742
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $386 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.7%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
31.3% rent
Vacancy rate
9.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.8%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+28%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Elbow Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(1,236)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(17)
Asian0.5%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.5%(57)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(1,185)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(33)
Asian0%(0)
Other6.4%(83)
Diversity Score20.7%(269)
Diversity Score
21
+360%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 84.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+84%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.7%
+17.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% 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
7.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.5%
−8.0 ptssince 2011
from 67.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.3%
−32.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−40.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.8%
+6.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−86.2 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.2%
+23.1 ptssince 2017
from 71.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Elbow Lake, Minnesota?

Elbow Lake, Minnesota has about 1,301 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Elbow Lake, Minnesota earns about $59,792 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Elbow Lake, Minnesota expensive?

In Elbow Lake, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $126,900, and the typical rent is about $742 a month.

How educated are people in Elbow Lake, Minnesota?

About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Elbow Lake, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Elbow Lake, Minnesota?

About 19.3% of people in Elbow Lake, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Elbow Lake, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Elbow Lake, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 118 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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

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