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CITY

Sleepy Eye

Minnesota · 3,461 residents (2025 est.) · 1.871 sq mi
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The short version

Sleepy Eye has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,911. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% 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 $147,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,444
−2%since 2000
from 3,515 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,841 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 1,879 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.1
+5%since 2000
from 38.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,461 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K4K1990201020202024Sleepy Eye
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,911
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,123 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,386
+90%since 2000
from $20,175 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.9%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
+14%since 2010
from 0.391 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing7.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Information6.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,600
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$782
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
21.8% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.8%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+3%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sleepy Eye on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(3,205)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(274)
Asian0.3%(12)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.1%(670)
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.5%(2,702)
Black0.3%(9)
Hispanic / Latino17.3%(596)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other3.7%(129)
Diversity Score44.1%(1,520)
Diversity Score
44
+132%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.1%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.3%
+19.0 ptssince 2000
from 75.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.9 min
+40%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
87.7%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 68.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.5%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
Foreign born
6.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−35.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−86.3 ptssince 2013
from 90.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+14.6 ptssince 2017
from 75.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 85.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 13.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Sleepy Eye to nearby cities

SLEEPY EYE VS
New Ulm
Income$64,449−4%
Home value$204,200+38%
Population13,863+301%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SLEEPY EYE VS
North Mankato
Income$80,791+21%
Home value$262,100+78%
Population14,165+309%
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SLEEPY EYE VS
St. Peter
Income$65,122−3%
Home value$250,700+70%
Population12,275+255%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SLEEPY EYE VS
Mankato
Income$66,873same
Home value$261,700+77%
Population46,529+1244%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota?

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota has about 3,444 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota?

The typical household in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota earns about $66,911 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sleepy Eye, Minnesota expensive?

In Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $147,600, and the typical rent is about $782 a month.

How educated are people in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota?

About 19.1% of adults age 25 and over in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota?

About 7.8% of people in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sleepy Eye, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 250 residents, a change of about -7 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 →