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Blooming Prairie, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota had a total population of 1,843, the 274th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $63,656, which is 29% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.5%.

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

Key Takeaways

Blooming Prairie Quick Facts

Population 1,843
Median Household Income $63,656
Median Home Value $161,300
Poverty Rate 7.5%
Unemployment Rate 2.4%
Median Age 44.2 years
Homeownership Rate 86.8%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.8%
High School Graduation Rate 88.2%
Diversity Index 30/100
Population 1,843 274th of 914
Median Income $63,656 below average
Poverty Rate 7.5% 40% lower than national
Median Home Value $161,300 average

How Blooming Prairie Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,9771,843-6.8%
Median household income$63,929$63,656-0.4%
Median home value$155,800$161,300+3.5%

How Blooming Prairie Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.3%
$25K-$50K 17.9%
$50K-$100K 36.8%
$100K+ 26.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
1.7%
$10K-$15K
7.1%
$15K-$20K
7.4%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
1.0%
$30K-$35K
3.2%
$35K-$40K
7.0%
$40K-$45K
3.9%
$45K-$50K
2.9%
$50K-$60K
8.6%
$60K-$75K
19.8%
$75K-$100K
8.5%
$100K-$125K
6.6%
$125K-$150K
5.1%
$150K-$200K
7.1%
$200K+
7.3%

Employment

2.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
62.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.8%
Renter 13.2%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $907/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

30out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Blooming Prairie Rankings in Minnesota

#274 Population of 914
#546 Median Income of 887
#244 Education of 914
#493 Home Value of 870

Other Cities in Steele County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Owatonna 26,498 $80,750 9.2% $245,200
Medford 1,257 $108,250 4.9% $249,600
Ellendale 754 $89,375 2.7% $155,200

Cities Similar to Blooming Prairie

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Ada1,833$64,091$137,80030.9%16.8%
Grand Marais1,796$70,583$310,50042.2%10.1%
Silver Bay1,769$69,489$158,90021.8%9.9%
Gilbert1,697$64,625$126,00018.9%8.8%
Braham1,732$59,375$196,8009.7%16.1%

Population Overview

Blooming Prairie is a small community located in Minnesota, within Steele County. The total population is 1,843. It ranks as the 274th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Blooming Prairie is 44.2 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 18.6% 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 Blooming Prairie is $63,656. This is 29% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $161,300. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Blooming Prairie is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Blooming Prairie is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.2% vs 6.4%).

Education

29.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 88.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Blooming Prairie, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota?

Blooming Prairie, Minnesota has a population of 1,843 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Blooming Prairie, MN?

The median household income in Blooming Prairie is $63,656, which is 21% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Blooming Prairie, MN?

The poverty rate in Blooming Prairie is 7.5%. This means approximately 134 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota?

Blooming Prairie's population is 81.9% White, 0.0% Black, 16.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Blooming Prairie, MN?

The median home value in Blooming Prairie is $161,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.5x.

How educated is Blooming Prairie, Minnesota?

29.8% of adults (25+) in Blooming Prairie hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.