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CITY

Paynesville

Minnesota · 2,591 residents (2025 est.) · 2.29 sq mi
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The short version

Paynesville has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,250. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $178,200. Poverty is rare here, at 5.6% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,519
+11%since 2000
from 2,267 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,100 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 990 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.1
−10%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,591 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Paynesville
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,250
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,000 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,748
+101%since 2000
from $17,246 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.0%
+36.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.356
−2%since 2010
from 0.364 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$178,200
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$815
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.7% in 2000
31.4% rent
Vacancy rate
10.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
7.2%
−20.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+13%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Paynesville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(2,218)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(29)
Asian0.3%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score4%(92)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(2,222)
Black0.3%(8)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(175)
Asian0.8%(19)
Other3.8%(95)
Diversity Score26.9%(679)
Diversity Score
27
+566%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.2%
+13.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+17.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+30%since 2000
from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 3.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.3%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
47.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.9%
−35.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−86.1 ptssince 2013
from 92.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.6%
+26.1 ptssince 2017
from 65.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2016
from 89.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2016
from 8.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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PAYNESVILLE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Paynesville, Minnesota?

Paynesville, Minnesota has about 2,519 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Paynesville, Minnesota?

The typical household in Paynesville, Minnesota earns about $75,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Paynesville, Minnesota expensive?

In Paynesville, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $178,200, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.

How educated are people in Paynesville, Minnesota?

About 27.2% of adults age 25 and over in Paynesville, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Paynesville, Minnesota?

About 5.6% of people in Paynesville, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Paynesville, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Paynesville, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 244 residents, a change of about 11 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 →

Paynesville, Minnesota: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy