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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lake of the Woods County

Minnesota · 3,763 residents · 1,298 sq mi
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The short version

With 3,763 people, Lake of the Woods County is a county in Minnesota. At a median age of 50.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 83% of the housing stock. 0% of locals were born outside the United States. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households here earn about 31% less than in Minnesota as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 90%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,763
−17%since 2000
from 4,522 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.6
+22%since 2000
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1,298 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K5K19902000201020202024Lake of the Woods County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.8%(180)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(183)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.3%(201)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.3%(198)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.2%(122)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.3%(350)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(433)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(442)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.5%(658)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7416.3%(615)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.5%(284)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(97)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,669
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,861 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,833
+64%since 2000
from $16,976 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.9%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.8%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade27.6%
US avg: 10%
Information13.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Other services0.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$179,500
+90%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$675
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
82.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
17.2% rent
Persons per household
2.43 people
+8%since 2009
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
3.5
+25%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(4,373)
Black0.3%(12)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(29)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(3,497)
Black0.3%(12)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(56)
Asian0.5%(17)
Other7.8%(292)
Segregation Score
27
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
Mexican0.1%(2)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German26.3%(986)
Norwegian18.2%(682)
Swedish10.2%(383)
Irish6.4%(241)
Polish5.5%(205)
English5.2%(195)
Finnish3.2%(120)
American3%(113)
French2.5%(92)
Italian1.6%(59)
Czech1.2%(45)
Danish0.9%(35)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.7%(27)
Scottish0.7%(26)
Swiss0.6%(22)
Welsh0.5%(19)
British0.5%(18)
Dutch0.4%(14)
Lithuanian0.3%(11)
Serbian0.2%(9)
Belgian0.2%(6)
Ukrainian0.1%(4)
Greek0.1%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
96.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.4 min
+48%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 4.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
75.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
18.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
46.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
85.7%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
89.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
50.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
24.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
24.1%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
20.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
73.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
42.6%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.7%(40)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)7.8%(20)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era32.5%(83)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War2%(5)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 255 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
Drill deeper

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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+47%
Home value$183,700+2%
Population15,246+304%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Beltrami County
Income$68,975+36%
Home value$237,500+32%
Population47,055+1148%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Koochiching County
Income$66,940+32%
Home value$156,600−13%
Population11,587+207%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$77,325+53%
Home value$195,500+9%
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 3,763 residents according to the 2020 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 $50,669 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 $179,500, and the typical rent is about $675 a month.

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

About 21.3% 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 9.8% 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 313 residents, a change of about -8 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 →