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CITY

Pelican Rapids

Minnesota · 2,608 residents (2025 est.) · 2.58 sq mi
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The short version

Pelican Rapids is home to 2,586 people in Minnesota. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. The typical home is worth $174,100, having more than doubled since 2000. 26% of residents were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 28% less than in Minnesota as a whole. There are 1,002 people per square mile.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

2,586
+9%since 2000
from 2,374 in 2000
2,608 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
1,002 / sq mi
+4%since 2009
from 961 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
38.6
+6%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2.58 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024Pelican Rapids
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 59.9%(256)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98%(207)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.6%(92)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(178)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(138)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.6%(222)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.1%(338)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(355)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.8%(356)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.5%(219)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(117)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.2%(108)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$63,917
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,232 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$27,494
+101%since 2000
from $13,699 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.4%
+23.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
16.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.481
+11%since 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical1.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$174,100
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
63.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 62.1% in 2000
36.1% rent
10.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.71 people
+4%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
21.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
34.5%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
2.7
+7%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
73
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic73.3%(1,739)
Black0.7%(17)
Hispanic / Latino19.6%(465)
Asian3.6%(85)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52%(1,344)
Black10.2%(265)
Hispanic / Latino32.9%(850)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.9%(127)
76
Unchangedsince 2009
from 76 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican27.8%(719)
Cuban3.4%(87)
Puerto Rican0.8%(20)
Ancestry
German23.7%(613)
Norwegian21.5%(555)
Irish8.4%(216)
Somali6.8%(177)
Swedish4.5%(116)
English2.4%(62)
Polish2.1%(54)
Italian1.6%(41)
Arab1%(25)
Iraqi1%(25)
French0.8%(20)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese0.8%(20)
Scottish0.8%(20)
Brazilian0.6%(16)
Hungarian0.3%(7)
British0.2%(6)
American0.2%(5)
Section 05

Education

19.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
76.2%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 66.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
7.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

22.4 min
+85%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
73.8%
+23.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
4.9%
−16.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
8.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
8.1%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
12.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
57.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 62.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.5%
−10.4 ptssince 2020
from 76.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
15.7%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
22.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

52.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
47.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
25.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
4.2%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
13.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2012
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
11.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
85.9%
+27.8 ptssince 2017
from 58.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
87.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
85.0%
−4.1 ptssince 2020
from 89.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
64.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2016
from 61.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
24.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2016
from 20.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.3%(360)
Married56.7%(562)
Widowed3.8%(38)
Divorced3.2%(32)
Women 15+
Never married26%(270)
Married51.5%(535)
Widowed11.4%(118)
Divorced11.2%(116)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

11.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
44.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 46.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2020
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
21.5%
+10.5 ptssince 2020
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
27.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 22.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
58.5%
−4.3 ptssince 2020
from 62.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
45.2%
+13.5 ptssince 2020
from 31.7% 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)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era66.3%(53)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.3%(5)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 80 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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota?

Pelican Rapids, Minnesota has about 2,586 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota?

The typical household in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota earns about $63,917 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pelican Rapids, Minnesota expensive?

In Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $174,100.

How educated are people in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota?

About 19.3% of adults age 25 and over in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota?

About 16.6% of people in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pelican Rapids, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 700 residents, a change of about 37 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 →