COMPARING TWO PLACES
Backus vs Bemidji
PLACE A
Backus, Minnesota
VS
PLACE B
Bemidji, Minnesota
Backus is 98% smaller than Bemidji. their median incomes are within a few thousand dollars.
BACKUSBEMIDJIDIFFERENCE
Total population26415,770−98% vs Bemidji
Population density426904−478
Population growth5.2%8.5%−3.3 pts
Median age45.330.0+15.3
Male59.8%48.5%+11.3 pts
Female40.2%51.5%−11.3 pts
Foreign-born4.5%2.3%+2.2 pts
White, non-Hispanic66.7%70.9%−4.2 pts
Black3.1%1.8%+1.2 pts
Hispanic / Latino3.8%3.2%+0.6 pts
Asian0.3%1.0%−0.7 pts
Other26.1%23.1%+3.1 pts
Median household income$56,250$55,405+$845
Per capita income$30,042$31,542−$1,500
Poverty rate17.9%21.3%−3.5 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4080.435−0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher14.8%32.5%−17.7 pts
Graduate degree7.9%14.7%−6.9 pts
Unemployment rate3.0%5.2%−2.1 pts
Labor force participation58.1%64.0%−5.8 pts
Median home value$134,700$198,300−$63,600
Median gross rent$720$1,067−$347
Owner-occupied70.5%43.1%+27.4 pts
Housing vacancy rate32.1%8.2%+23.9 pts
Rent-burdened households9.1%44.0%−34.9 pts
Average commute24.017.4+6.7
Worked from home7.8%5.9%+1.9 pts
Public transit to work5.5%0.8%+4.7 pts
Uninsured12.0%7.1%+4.9 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025