CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Ely

Minnesota · 3,968 residents · 2.92 sq mi

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The short version

With 3,968 people, Ely is a city in Minnesota. At a median age of 41.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 50% less than in Minnesota as a whole. Median home value sits at $26,500. The median household earns $15,542, about 48% below the national median. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance

Lower income

median household income $15,542, below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 41.7

US median: 33.0

Less educated

12% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 39%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

3,968

+7%vs 2000

vs 3,724 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Population density

1,357 / sq mi

+7%vs 2000

vs 1,274 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 221

Median age

41.7

+2%vs 2000

vs 40.8 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

2.92 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20243K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 54.8%(190)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 96.5%(257)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 144.4%(174)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 198.8%(351)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 246.4%(255)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3410.5%(415)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4411.6%(462)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 548.6%(340)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 649.1%(363)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7413.8%(549)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 8413.2%(525)

US avg: 4%

85 and over2.2%(87)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$15,542

−26%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $27,615 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$8,981

−47%vs 2000

vs $16,855 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

20.5%

+6.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 14.5% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$26,500

−39%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $57,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$274

−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $375 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

71.4%

Unchangedvs 2000

vs 71.4% in 2000

28.6% rent

Afford Score

1.7

1990 – 2024

Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic96.6%(3,597)

Black0.9%(32)

Hispanic / Latino0.7%(25)

Asian0.2%(7)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic98.4%(3,905)

Black0.6%(25)

Hispanic / Latino0%(0)

Asian0%(0)

Other1%(38)

Diversity Score

1990 – 2024

Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Central American0.9%(30)

Guatemalan0.9%(30)

Mexican0.7%(22)

Pacific Islander origin

Samoan0.3%(11)

Ancestry

German25%(811)

Finnish12.1%(393)

Norwegian11.5%(374)

Slovene9.1%(295)

Irish7.6%(246)

Swedish6.7%(217)

English6.5%(211)

Italian4.3%(140)

Polish4.1%(132)

American2.4%(78)

Austrian1.9%(61)

Czech1.8%(59)

+ 20 more ancestry groups with data

French Canadian1.6%(52)

Croatian1.4%(46)

French1%(34)

Lithuanian1%(33)

Dutch1%(32)

Welsh0.9%(30)

Greek0.9%(29)

Russian0.8%(27)

Slovak0.8%(26)

Subsaharan African0.8%(26)

Hungarian0.7%(23)

Danish0.7%(22)

Scottish0.5%(17)

Romanian0.3%(10)

Scotch-Irish0.3%(9)

Swiss0.2%(8)

Belgian0.2%(7)

West Indian0.2%(7)

Haitian0.2%(7)

Canadian0.2%(5)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Finnish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Slovene population · Largest Irish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

11.5%

−10.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 22.0% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

72.8%

−13.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 86.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

2.6%

−4.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.1% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

16.7 min

−3%vs 2000

vs 17.2 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married50.2%(770)

Married29.8%(457)

Widowed1.2%(19)

Divorced18.7%(287)

Women 15+

Never married34.1%(513)

Married32%(482)

Widowed12.4%(186)

Divorced21.6%(325)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

8.2%

−0.5 ptssince 2013

from 8.7% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

45.9%

−2.6 ptssince 2020

from 48.5% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

31.1%

+7.0 ptssince 2020

from 24.1% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

31.2%

+8.1 ptssince 2020

from 23.1% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

19.0%

+1.2 ptssince 2020

from 17.8% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.9%

+0.3 ptssince 2020

from 3.6% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

67.9%

−2.8 ptssince 2020

from 70.7% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

47.7%

+8.9 ptssince 2020

from 38.8% 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)25.4%(65)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)19.5%(50)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era36.7%(94)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War7.4%(19)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 256 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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