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COUNTY

Lake of the Woods County

Minnesota · 3,770 residents (2025 est.) · 1,297.653 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#143Lowest poverty rateof 3,1446.4%
The short version

Lake of the Woods County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,546. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 701 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $216,100. With a median age of 50.7, 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 50.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 89%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,821
−16%since 2000
from 4,522 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.7
+22%since 2000
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,770 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K5K1990201020202024Lake of the Woods County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(207)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.5%(250)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.3%(127)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.7%(181)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.4%(169)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349%(343)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(474)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.7%(332)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6418.6%(712)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7418%(688)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(240)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(98)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,546
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,861 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,861
+158%since 2000
from $16,976 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.8%
+29.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.412
−8%since 2010
from 0.447 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade27.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Information7.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$216,100
+89%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$955
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
18.2% rent
Vacancy rate
48.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.9%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.8%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
−2%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake of the Woods County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(4,373)
Black0.3%(12)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(29)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(3,350)
Black0.3%(11)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(60)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other10.3%(393)
Diversity Score
28
+160%since 2009
from 11 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−48%since 2020
from 27 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
Mexican1.4%(52)
Peruvian0.2%(8)
Asian origin
Taiwanese0.2%(7)
Ancestry
Norwegian22.9%(874)
German22.3%(853)
Irish8.1%(308)
Swedish7.9%(301)
English5.3%(201)
Finnish4.1%(156)
French4%(151)
American2.9%(111)
Italian1.9%(72)
Polish1.9%(71)
Danish1.2%(47)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.2%(45)
Dutch0.7%(28)
Ukrainian0.7%(25)
Welsh0.5%(21)
Swiss0.4%(15)
Canadian0.1%(5)
Scottish0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest Norwegian population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Swedish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.4%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.8%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.2 min
+24%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.5%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
45.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.9%
−38.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2012
from 16.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−87.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.8%
+48.7 ptssince 2017
from 42.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33%(571)
Married51.6%(893)
Widowed2.3%(40)
Divorced13.1%(227)
Women 15+
Never married12.2%(184)
Married62.6%(943)
Widowed10.2%(154)
Divorced14.9%(225)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Lake of the Woods County to nearby counties

LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Roseau County
Income$74,474−4%
Home value$183,700−15%
Population15,246+304%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Beltrami County
Income$68,975−11%
Home value$237,500+10%
Population47,055+1148%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Koochiching County
Income$66,940−14%
Home value$156,600−28%
Population11,587+207%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$77,325same
Home value$195,500−10%
Population13,686+263%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota?

Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota has about 3,821 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota earns about $77,546 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota expensive?

In Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $216,100, and the typical rent is about $955 a month.

How educated are people in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota?

About 25.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota?

About 6.4% of people in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 255 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 4603Census Tract 4604.01Census Tract 4604.02
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 56623ZIP 56686ZIP 56673ZIP 56711
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →