CensusEasy
COUNTY

Big Stone County

Minnesota · 5,054 residents (2025 est.) · 499.129 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Big Stone County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,400. Population has declined 12% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $169,100. With a median age of 47.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 99%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,127
−12%since 2000
from 5,820 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
10 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 11 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.0
+8%since 2000
from 43.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,054 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K1990201020202024Big Stone County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(313)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(275)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(347)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.1%(259)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(233)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.5%(486)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411%(566)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.5%(485)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(785)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.3%(731)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.3%(373)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.3%(274)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,400
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,721 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,277
+163%since 2000
from $15,708 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.3%
+30.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.463
+10%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction11.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$169,100
+99%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$745
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $231 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.7%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
20.3% rent
Vacancy rate
28.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 37.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+21%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
84
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Stone County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(5,719)
Black0.2%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(20)
Asian0.4%(24)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(4,799)
Black0.3%(14)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(137)
Asian0.7%(34)
Other2.8%(143)
Diversity Score
15
+201%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
12
−57%since 2020
from 28 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.2%(111)
Cuban0.4%(18)
Dominican0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(19)
Asian Indian0.2%(12)
Japanese0.1%(4)
Korean0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German46.9%(2,405)
Norwegian17.9%(919)
Irish13%(668)
Swedish6.3%(322)
English5.3%(272)
American4.3%(218)
Polish2.8%(145)
Dutch1.6%(83)
French1.5%(79)
Czech1.3%(67)
Scottish0.6%(32)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian0.6%(29)
Finnish0.6%(29)
Danish0.5%(24)
Welsh0.4%(21)
Italian0.4%(19)
Swiss0.3%(17)
Russian0.3%(14)
Ghanaian0.3%(14)
British0.2%(9)
Latvian0.1%(5)
Lithuanian0.1%(5)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Swedish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.7%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+14.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.8%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.4 min
+54%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 68.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 3.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.8%
−21.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−89.2 ptssince 2013
from 92.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.2%
+20.7 ptssince 2017
from 69.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.8%(476)
Married63.8%(1,330)
Widowed3.1%(65)
Divorced10.2%(213)
Women 15+
Never married21.8%(460)
Married55.3%(1,165)
Widowed12.9%(272)
Divorced10%(211)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Big Stone County

Lincoln County
Pop 5,603
Oneida County
Pop 5,085
Scott County
Pop 4,866
Washington County
Pop 4,732
Places similar to Big Stone County
Head to head

Compare Big Stone County to nearby counties

BIG STONE COUNTY VS
Stevens County
Income$75,733+8%
Home value$202,800+20%
Population9,747+93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG STONE COUNTY VS
Traverse County
Income$62,989−11%
Home value$114,100−33%
Population3,130−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG STONE COUNTY VS
Grant County
Income$75,028+7%
Home value$171,000+1%
Population7,534+49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG STONE COUNTY VS
Roberts County
Income$65,130−7%
Home value$154,500−9%
Population10,255+103%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Stone County, Minnesota?

Big Stone County, Minnesota has about 5,127 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Big Stone County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Big Stone County, Minnesota earns about $70,400 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Big Stone County, Minnesota expensive?

In Big Stone County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $169,100, and the typical rent is about $745 a month.

How educated are people in Big Stone County, Minnesota?

About 25.7% of adults age 25 and over in Big Stone County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Big Stone County, Minnesota?

About 12.9% of people in Big Stone County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Big Stone County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Big Stone County, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,158 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 56278ZIP 56240ZIP 56225ZIP 56211ZIP 56276ZIP 56227ZIP 56210
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →