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COUNTY

Cass County

Minnesota · 31,430 residents (2025 est.) · 2,021 sq mi
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Part of the Brainerd micropolitan area
The short version

Cass County is home to 30,992 people in Minnesota. The median age is 49.9, about 11 years above the US median. 86% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 1%. There are 15 people per square mile. About 26% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $68,874, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Cass County

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$122,404 → $288,300 (+136%)US over the same years: +67%
  • White share88.3% → 80.8% (−7.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Median age38.2 → 49.9 (+11.7 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years

Among the 87 counties in Minnesota

  • 74th in household income$68,874
  • 41st in share with a bachelor's degree26.0%
  • 19th in home value$288,300
  • 20th in diversity score40.0
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
30,992
+14%since 2000
from 27,150 in 2000
31,430 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
15 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 13 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
49.9
+18%since 2000
from 42.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2,021 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K24K26K29K32K19902000201020202024Cass County
202431K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.6%(1,419)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(1,598)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(2,034)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(1,707)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(1,311)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349%(2,797)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.3%(3,183)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.5%(3,255)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.7%(5,180)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.8%(5,204)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.5%(2,648)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(656)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,874
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,332 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,449
+124%since 2000
from $17,189 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.5%
+25.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+2%since 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$288,300
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$863
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $371 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
86.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.9% in 2000
13.8% rent
Vacancy rate
47.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.38 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.15 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
22.7%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
−4%since 2009
from 4.4 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(23,377)
Black0.1%(31)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(220)
Asian0.3%(70)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.8%(25,028)
Black0.4%(109)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(565)
Asian0.5%(150)
Other16.6%(5,140)
Diversity Score
40
+29%since 2009
from 31 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
45
−10%since 2020
from 50 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
Mexican1.1%(337)
Cuban0.2%(75)
Puerto Rican0.1%(30)
Ecuadorian0.1%(23)
Spaniard0.1%(21)
Dominican0%(14)
Uruguayan0%(14)
Colombian0%(10)
Chilean0%(2)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(40)
Hmong0.1%(30)
Filipino0.1%(29)
Asian Indian0.1%(18)
Chinese0%(13)
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Chuukese0.1%(18)
Samoan0%(4)
Ancestry
German30.4%(9,431)
Norwegian13.2%(4,097)
Irish8.9%(2,758)
English7.6%(2,368)
Swedish7.2%(2,245)
American3.8%(1,184)
Polish3.8%(1,169)
French2.5%(771)
Dutch1.3%(411)
Scottish1.2%(379)
Czech1.2%(367)
Italian1.2%(359)
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data
Finnish1%(311)
Danish0.9%(292)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(131)
Hungarian0.4%(111)
Welsh0.3%(108)
Swiss0.3%(107)
Russian0.3%(99)
British0.2%(76)
Ukrainian0.2%(65)
Ethiopian0.2%(51)
Croatian0.1%(45)
Belgian0.1%(39)
Slovak0.1%(36)
Serbian0.1%(31)
Slovene0.1%(29)
Lithuanian0.1%(28)
Arab0.1%(27)
Austrian0.1%(27)
Turkish0.1%(18)
Lebanese0.1%(16)
Greek0.1%(16)
Romanian0%(12)
Jamaican0%(11)
Syrian0%(8)
Kenyan0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.0%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.3%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.2 min
+68%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 75.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
16.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
48.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.3%
+17.0 ptssince 2017
from 72.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 90.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 87.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
97.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.5%(3,780)
Married55%(7,292)
Widowed3.7%(489)
Divorced12.8%(1,699)
Women 15+
Never married22.5%(2,854)
Married56.7%(7,195)
Widowed9.2%(1,171)
Divorced11.5%(1,461)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
40.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 41.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
21.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 22.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
29.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 27.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
26.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
60.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 61.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
53.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 52.5% 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)13.8%(327)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)13.8%(327)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era51.2%(1,211)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4%(95)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.8%(18)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,367 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
Over time

Cass County, decade by decade

Cass County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199021,791$44,958$122,40411.4%26.0
200027,150$62,541$175,24316.6%30.3
201028,567$61,060$265,99220.2%31.9
202030,066$65,262$243,25625.0%37.5
202430,992$68,874$288,30026.0%40.0

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Cass County

Bureau County
Pop 32,510
White County
Pop 29,802
Peach County
Pop 29,877
Haralson County
Pop 33,066
Places similar to Cass County
Head to head

Compare Cass County to nearby counties

CASS COUNTY VS
Hubbard County
Income$71,995+5%
Home value$282,600−2%
Population22,369−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CASS COUNTY VS
Crow Wing County
Income$72,589+5%
Home value$306,800+6%
Population69,132+120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CASS COUNTY VS
Wadena County
Income$61,467−11%
Home value$173,000−40%
Population14,388−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CASS COUNTY VS
Aitkin County
Income$60,833−12%
Home value$255,800−11%
Population16,252−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cass County, Minnesota?

Cass County, Minnesota has about 30,992 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cass County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Cass County, Minnesota earns about $68,874 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cass County, Minnesota expensive?

In Cass County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $288,300, and the typical rent is about $863 a month.

How educated are people in Cass County, Minnesota?

About 26.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cass County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cass County, Minnesota?

About 12.8% of people in Cass County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cass County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Cass County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,201 residents, a change of about 42 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 →