Carlton County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

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

Carlton County, Minnesota has a population of 36,518, the 30th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $80,573 and the median home value is $245,100. The poverty rate is 11.9%.

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

Carlton County Quick Facts

Population 36,518

Median Household Income $80,573

Median Home Value $245,100

Poverty Rate 11.9%

Unemployment Rate 4.8%

Median Age 41.4 years

Homeownership Rate 80.0%

Affordability Ratio 3.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.5%

High School Graduation 93.5%

Cities/Places 12

Population 36,518 30th of 87

Median Income $80,573 10% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.9%

Unemployment 4.8%

How Carlton 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	36,457	36,518	+0.2%
Median household income	$80,042	$80,573	+0.7%
Median home value	$232,000	$245,100	+5.6%

Median Household Income

Carlton

$80,573

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Carlton

$245,100

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.7%

$25K-$50K 16.1%

$50K-$100K 32.2%

$100K+ 38.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

3.3%

$15K-$20K

2.9%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

2.5%

$30K-$35K

1.9%

$35K-$40K

4.1%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

7.6%

$60K-$75K

9.6%

$75K-$100K

15.0%

$100K-$125K

11.6%

$125K-$150K

8.8%

$150K-$200K

10.3%

$200K+

7.3%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

59.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.0%

Renter 20.0%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,009/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.5%

18-34

18.8%

35-54

27.1%

55-74

25.2%

75+

7.3%

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 Carlton County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Cloquet	12,537	$61,367	15.9%	$212,700
Moose Lake	2,863	$64,286	51.2%	$205,000
Esko	1,813	$109,063	3.5%	$318,800
Scanlon	1,146	$68,750	7.6%	$228,800
Carlton	875	$63,375	6.0%	$201,400
Barnum	503	$43,438	18.5%	$155,200
Mahtowa	428	$78,750	3.7%	$273,400
Cromwell	423	$58,750	6.1%	$156,300
Wrenshall	404	$98,750	7.3%	$243,200
Big Lake	378	$92,500	12.7%	$256,800
Kettle River	140	$65,000	12.9%	$154,200
Wright	96	$59,375	29.5%	$143,800

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

Carlton County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 36,518. It is the 30th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carlton County is 41.4 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carlton County is $80,573. This is 10% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.9%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $245,100. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carlton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 93.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Carlton 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 Carlton County, Minnesota?

Carlton County has a population of 36,518, making it the 30th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Carlton County?

The median household income in Carlton County is $80,573 with a poverty rate of 11.9%.

How many cities are in Carlton County, Minnesota?

Carlton County contains 12 Census-designated places.