CensusEasy
CITY

Lester Prairie

Minnesota · 1,881 residents (2025 est.) · 1.003 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Hutchinson micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Lester Prairie is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $96,544. Population has grown 38% since 2000. 13% 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 $237,400. At a median age of 32.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,898
+38%since 2000
from 1,377 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,892 / sq mi
+38%since 2000
from 1,373 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.8
−3%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,881 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Lester Prairie
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$96,544
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,271 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,836
+113%since 2000
from $18,223 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.2%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 36.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.365
+16%since 2010
from 0.316 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade13%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Information6.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$237,400
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$688
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
85.8%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
14.2% rent
Vacancy rate
3.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.7%
−15.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.2%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+18%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lester Prairie on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(1,306)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(68)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.9%(164)
2024
White, non-Hispanic73.3%(1,391)
Black1.1%(20)
Hispanic / Latino20.1%(381)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other5.4%(102)
Diversity Score52.4%(995)
Diversity Score
52
+340%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 1.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.0 min
+55%since 2000
from 19.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.5%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.8%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
76.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 78.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.0%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
49.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−45.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 8.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.1%
−89.7 ptssince 2013
from 91.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.5%
+16.3 ptssince 2017
from 74.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 82.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 15.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lester Prairie

Howey-in-the-Hills
Pop 1,857
Montverde
Pop 1,836
Hillsboro Beach
Pop 2,015
Chuluota
Pop 2,187
Places similar to Lester Prairie
Head to head

Compare Lester Prairie to nearby cities

LESTER PRAIRIE VS
Waconia
Income$111,031+15%
Home value$431,000+82%
Population14,113+650%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LESTER PRAIRIE VS
Minnetrista
Income$163,051+69%
Home value$658,300+177%
Population9,458+403%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LESTER PRAIRIE VS
Hutchinson
Income$72,836−25%
Home value$229,600−3%
Population14,655+679%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LESTER PRAIRIE VS
Victoria
Income$195,639+103%
Home value$581,200+145%
Population12,447+562%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lester Prairie, Minnesota?

Lester Prairie, Minnesota has about 1,898 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lester Prairie, Minnesota?

The typical household in Lester Prairie, Minnesota earns about $96,544 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lester Prairie, Minnesota expensive?

In Lester Prairie, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $237,400, and the typical rent is about $688 a month.

How educated are people in Lester Prairie, Minnesota?

About 13.0% of adults age 25 and over in Lester Prairie, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lester Prairie, Minnesota?

About 3.0% of people in Lester Prairie, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lester Prairie, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Lester Prairie, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 718 residents, a change of about 61 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Lester Prairie with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →