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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Albert Lea Micro

Albert Lea, MN · 1 counties · 30,440 residents (2025 est.) · 707.245 sq mi
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#45Highest homeownership rateof 92579.5%
The short version

Albert Lea has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,023. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $171,100. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
30,623
−6%since 2000
from 32,584 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 46 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+10%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:30,440 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K31K32K33K33K1990201020202024Albert Lea
202431K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,023
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,964 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,886
+118%since 2000
from $18,325 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+24.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
+8%since 2010
from 0.422 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$171,100
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$849
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $368 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.7% in 2000
20.5% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+17%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Albert Lea on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(30,061)
Black0.2%(65)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(2,049)
Asian0.5%(171)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.5%(5,387)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(24,948)
Black1.5%(459)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(3,302)
Asian3.5%(1,086)
Other2.7%(828)
Diversity Score40.3%(12,343)
Segregation Score32.4%(9,927)
Diversity Score
40
+144%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
+4%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.4%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+57%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.1%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−84.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.3%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Albert LeaCENTRAL18,217
What's inside

1 component county

Freeborn CountyCENTRAL30,440
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Albert Lea

Big Spring
Pop 30,504
Fort Morgan
Pop 30,306
Cody
Pop 31,171
Dixon
Pop 32,914
Places similar to Albert Lea
Head to head

Compare Albert Lea side by side

ALBERT LEA VS
Big Spring
Income$69,649−2%
Home value$155,600−9%
Population30,504same
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ALBERT LEA VS
Fort Morgan
Income$73,278+3%
Home value$338,600+98%
Population30,306same
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ALBERT LEA VS
Cody
Income$73,035+3%
Home value$400,500+134%
Population31,171+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALBERT LEA VS
Dixon
Income$70,292−1%
Home value$154,600−10%
Population32,914+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Albert Lea, MN?

Albert Lea, MN has about 30,623 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Albert Lea, MN?

The typical household in Albert Lea, MN earns about $71,023 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Albert Lea, MN expensive?

In Albert Lea, MN, the median home is worth about $171,100, and the typical rent is about $849 a month.

How educated are people in Albert Lea, MN?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Albert Lea, MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Albert Lea, MN?

About 10.6% of people in Albert Lea, MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Albert Lea, MN grown since 1990?

Yes, Albert Lea, MN has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,437 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →