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Cass County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Cass County, Minnesota has a population of 30,688, the 36th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $64,937 and the median home value is $262,300. The poverty rate is 12.8%.

Cass County Quick Facts

Population 30,688
Median Household Income $64,937
Median Home Value $262,300
Poverty Rate 12.8%
Unemployment Rate 5.9%
Median Age 49.7 years
Homeownership Rate 84.9%
Affordability Ratio 4.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 25.4%
High School Graduation 94.4%
Cities/Places 15
Population 30,688 36th of 87
Median Income $64,937 26% lower state
Poverty Rate 12.8%
Unemployment 5.9%

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9% | National: 5.2%
55.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 84.9%
Renter 15.1%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.0x home value to income ratio

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: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Cass County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
East Gull Lake city1,173$128,5483.0%$522,000
Lake Shore city1,117$96,9236.5%$532,500
Pine River city928$39,85823.6%$133,300
Walker city858$35,84727.8%$240,200
Pillager city494$66,7718.5%$148,300
Cass Lake city492$47,04524.5%$109,100
Remer city348$42,75024.5%$146,300
Hackensack city302$32,10917.9%$159,400
Backus city287$58,75019.2%$104,700
Chickamaw Beach city218$85,6254.1%$275,000
Okabena city200$98,7509.0%$99,300
Longville city152$31,00023.0%$168,800
Federal Dam city147$48,75010.9%$141,700
Bena city59$60,41722.0%$112,500
Boy River city7$56,2500.0%N/A

Population Overview

Cass County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 30,688. It is the 36th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cass County is 49.7 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.4% 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 Cass County is $64,937. This is 26% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $262,300. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 84.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cass County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 6.2%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

25.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cass County, Minnesota?

Cass County has a population of 30,688, making it the 36th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Cass County?

The median household income in Cass County is $64,937 with a poverty rate of 12.8%.

How many cities are in Cass County, Minnesota?

Cass County contains 15 Census-designated places.