Big Stone County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

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

Big Stone County, Minnesota has a population of 5,127, the 83rd most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $70,400 and the median home value is $169,100. The poverty rate is 12.9%.

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

Big Stone County Quick Facts

Population 5,127

Median Household Income $70,400

Median Home Value $169,100

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment Rate 1.8%

Median Age 47.0 years

Homeownership Rate 79.7%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.7%

High School Graduation 93.9%

Cities/Places 8

Population 5,127 83rd of 87

Median Income $70,400 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment 1.8%

How Big Stone 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	5,152	5,127	-0.5%
Median household income	$65,475	$70,400	+7.5%
Median home value	$135,700	$169,100	+24.6%

Median Household Income

Big Stone

$70,400

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Big Stone

$169,100

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.1%

$25K-$50K 18.3%

$50K-$100K 29.9%

$100K+ 34.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

4.2%

$15K-$20K

4.2%

$20K-$25K

3.9%

$25K-$30K

2.4%

$30K-$35K

5.7%

$35K-$40K

3.2%

$40K-$45K

2.8%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

8.5%

$60K-$75K

9.8%

$75K-$100K

11.6%

$100K-$125K

9.9%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

9.1%

$200K+

7.4%

Employment

1.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

57.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.7%

Renter 20.3%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $745/mo 12.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.0%

18-34

15.3%

35-54

20.5%

55-74

29.6%

75+

12.6%

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 Big Stone County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ortonville	2,028	$56,133	12.1%	$166,300
Graceville	564	$66,111	24.9%	$121,400
Clinton	281	$88,750	16.0%	$70,000
Beardsley	229	$64,375	18.8%	$77,700
Odessa	87	$46,250	20.7%	$67,300
Johnson	20	N/A	25.0%	$130,600
Correll	18	N/A	38.9%	$45,000
Barry	16	$83,750	0.0%	N/A

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

Big Stone County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 5,127. It is the 83rd most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Big Stone County is 47.0 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 12.6% 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 Big Stone County is $70,400. This is 21% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $169,100. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Big Stone County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Big Stone County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

25.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 93.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Big Stone 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 Big Stone County, Minnesota?

Big Stone County has a population of 5,127, making it the 83rd most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Big Stone County?

The median household income in Big Stone County is $70,400 with a poverty rate of 12.9%.

How many cities are in Big Stone County, Minnesota?

Big Stone County contains 8 Census-designated places.