Bena, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 79, Bena'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

Bena is a small community located in Minnesota, within Cass County. The total population is 79. It ranks as the 821st most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bena is 32.7 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. With 39.2% of the population under 18, Bena has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bena is $49,167. This is 45% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.8%. This is 145% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Bena, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Bena is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bena is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 1.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (24.1%) is well below the state average of 75.9%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% 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 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bena, 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.