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CITY

Perham

Minnesota · 3,746 residents (2025 est.) · 3.577 sq mi
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The short version

Perham has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,716. Population has grown 42% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $199,000. At a median age of 33.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 44% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,627
+42%since 2000
from 2,559 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,014 / sq mi
+42%since 2000
from 715 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.2
−17%since 2000
from 40.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,746 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K4K1990201020202024Perham
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,716
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,397 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,927
+76%since 2000
from $16,444 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.5%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+28%since 2010
from 0.344 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information21%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food5%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Wholesale trade1.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$199,000
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$855
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $396 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.6%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 59.2% in 2000
47.4% rent
Vacancy rate
9.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.5%
−15.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.5%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+61%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Perham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(2,477)
Black0.4%(9)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(29)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.3%(110)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.6%(3,067)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino12.6%(456)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other2.8%(100)
Diversity Score33.5%(1,217)
Diversity Score
34
+679%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.0%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+15.8 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.8 min
+13%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.8%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
8.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% 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
12.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 66.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.4%
−22.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
Female
55.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
Foreign born
11.6%
+11.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−37.4 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−83.2 ptssince 2013
from 93.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.9%
+24.2 ptssince 2017
from 65.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.7%
−7.4 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
13.8%
+8.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Perham to nearby cities

PERHAM VS
Detroit Lakes
Income$62,958+27%
Home value$265,800+34%
Population10,019+167%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERHAM VS
Fergus Falls
Income$56,162+13%
Home value$194,000−3%
Population14,246+280%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERHAM VS
Alexandria
Income$61,374+23%
Home value$275,300+38%
Population15,045+302%
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PERHAM VS
Wahpeton
Income$62,750+26%
Home value$171,300−14%
Population8,141+117%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Perham, Minnesota?

Perham, Minnesota has about 3,627 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Perham, Minnesota?

The typical household in Perham, Minnesota earns about $49,716 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Perham, Minnesota expensive?

In Perham, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $199,000, and the typical rent is about $855 a month.

How educated are people in Perham, Minnesota?

About 30.0% of adults age 25 and over in Perham, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Perham, Minnesota?

About 19.1% of people in Perham, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Perham, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Perham, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,552 residents, a change of about 75 percent over that period.

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

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