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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Detroit Lakes Micro

Detroit Lakes, MN · 1 counties · 35,497 residents (2025 est.) · 1,315.037 sq mi
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The short version

Detroit Lakes has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,388. Population has grown 18% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $291,000. 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 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 90%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
35,343
+18%since 2000
from 30,000 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 23 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+10%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:35,497 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
27K29K32K34K36K1990201020202024Detroit Lakes
202435K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,388
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,797 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,842
+145%since 2000
from $17,085 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.3%
+22.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+12%since 2010
from 0.430 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$291,000
+90%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$920
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $364 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
22.8% rent
Vacancy rate
28.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+69%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Detroit Lakes on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89%(26,699)
Black0.2%(54)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(230)
Asian0.4%(108)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.6%(1,074)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.9%(30,011)
Black0.7%(258)
Hispanic / Latino2%(702)
Asian0.5%(173)
Other11.9%(4,199)
Diversity Score33%(11,680)
Segregation Score28%(9,887)
Diversity Score
33
+823%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
−23%since 2020
from 37 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.2%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+32%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.6%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 66.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.6%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.7%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 88.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.8%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 73.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Detroit LakesCENTRAL10,019
What's inside

1 component county

Becker CountyCENTRAL35,497
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Detroit Lakes

Dodge City
Pop 33,993
Lewisburg
Pop 38,071
Bennington
Pop 36,630
Crawfordsville
Pop 38,954
Places similar to Detroit Lakes
Head to head

Compare Detroit Lakes side by side

DETROIT LAKES VS
Dodge City
Income$70,781−1%
Home value$151,100−48%
Population33,993−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
Lewisburg
Income$71,049same
Home value$279,800−4%
Population38,071+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
Bennington
Income$73,325+3%
Home value$279,900−4%
Population36,630+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DETROIT LAKES VS
Crawfordsville
Income$71,479same
Home value$171,800−41%
Population38,954+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Detroit Lakes, MN?

Detroit Lakes, MN has about 35,343 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Detroit Lakes, MN?

The typical household in Detroit Lakes, MN earns about $71,388 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Detroit Lakes, MN expensive?

In Detroit Lakes, MN, the median home is worth about $291,000, and the typical rent is about $920 a month.

How educated are people in Detroit Lakes, MN?

About 28.0% of adults age 25 and over in Detroit Lakes, MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Detroit Lakes, MN?

About 12.9% of people in Detroit Lakes, MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Detroit Lakes, MN grown since 1990?

Yes, Detroit Lakes, MN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,462 residents, a change of about 27 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 →