Barnum, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 503, Barnum's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Barnum is a small community located in Minnesota, within Carlton County. The total population is 503. It ranks as the 497th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnum is 48.9 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 17.9% 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 Barnum is $43,438. This is 51% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.5%. This is 99% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 10.2%. This is 152% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $155,200. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 55.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barnum has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.8%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 96.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Barnum, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.