United States › Minnesota › Elk River CITY
Elk River Minnesota · 27,896 residents (2025 est.) · 42.3 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
Elk River is a city of 26,793 people in Minnesota. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 10,346 people. Few US cities rank higher on income. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. Poverty is uncommon here, at 3.4% of residents. 6% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,447 in 2000
27,896 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
633 / sq mi
+19%since 2009
from 530 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 32.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K 14K 19K 24K 28K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Elk River Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $108,741
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,114 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $21,808 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.361 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 5.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Education & health services 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.1%
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$370,100
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $146,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,283
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $592 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 78.3% in 2000
20.8% rent
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.83 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 38.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 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 96.4%(15,857)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(219)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 83.6%(22,412)
Hispanic / Latino 3.6%(953)
from 17 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
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 22.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 89.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 75.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 85.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 85.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 34.5%(3,791)
Women 15+
Never married 25.6%(2,622)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 74.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 9.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 86.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 22.6% 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) 30.3%(427)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.4%(146)
Share of the 1,410 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 Elk River Head to head
Compare Elk River to nearby cities ELK RIVER VS
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ELK RIVER VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Elk River, Minnesota? Elk River, Minnesota has about 26,793 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Elk River, Minnesota? The typical household in Elk River, Minnesota earns about $108,741 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Elk River, Minnesota expensive? In Elk River, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $370,100, and the typical rent is about $1,283 a month.
How educated are people in Elk River, Minnesota? About 33.8% of adults age 25 and over in Elk River, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Elk River, Minnesota? About 3.4% of people in Elk River, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Elk River, Minnesota grown since 1990? Yes, Elk River, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,592 residents, a change of about 139 percent over that period.
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