Aitkin County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Name: Aitkin County, Minnesota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Aitkin County, Minnesota has a population of 16,056, the 53rd most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $60,833 and the median home value is $255,800. The poverty rate is 13.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Aitkin County Quick Facts

Population 16,056

Median Household Income $60,833

Median Home Value $255,800

Poverty Rate 13.1%

Unemployment Rate 5.8%

Median Age 56.9 years

Homeownership Rate 85.3%

Affordability Ratio 4.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.3%

High School Graduation 94.6%

Cities/Places 6

Population 16,056 53rd of 87

Median Income $60,833 32% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.1%

Unemployment 5.8%

How Aitkin County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	15,930	16,056	+0.8%
Median household income	$59,498	$60,833	+2.2%
Median home value	$235,100	$255,800	+8.8%

Median Household Income

Aitkin

$60,833

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Aitkin

$255,800

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.1%

$25K-$50K 20.3%

$50K-$100K 33.3%

$100K+ 25.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.6%

$10K-$15K

5.7%

$15K-$20K

5.3%

$20K-$25K

5.5%

$25K-$30K

3.4%

$30K-$35K

4.2%

$35K-$40K

3.8%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

4.6%

$50K-$60K

7.9%

$60K-$75K

11.0%

$75K-$100K

14.4%

$100K-$125K

9.0%

$125K-$150K

6.2%

$150K-$200K

6.1%

$200K+

4.1%

Employment

5.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

47.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 85.3%

Renter 14.7%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $869/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.6%

18-34

12.7%

35-54

18.8%

55-74

38.2%

75+

14.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Aitkin County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Aitkin	2,323	$47,978	22.1%	$181,300
Hill City	503	$37,396	27.0%	$162,000
McGregor	367	$26,250	32.0%	$114,300
Palisade	148	$29,583	24.3%	$86,700
Tamarack	43	$60,833	23.3%	$175,000
McGrath	28	N/A	67.9%	$72,500

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Aitkin County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 16,056. It is the 53rd most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Aitkin County is 56.9 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 14.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Aitkin County is $60,833. This is 32% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $255,800. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 85.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Aitkin County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Aitkin County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Minnesota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Aitkin County, Minnesota?

Aitkin County has a population of 16,056, making it the 53rd most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Aitkin County?

The median household income in Aitkin County is $60,833 with a poverty rate of 13.1%.

How many cities are in Aitkin County, Minnesota?

Aitkin County contains 6 Census-designated places.