Clearwater County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clearwater County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 8,579. It is the 74th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clearwater County is 41.8 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clearwater County is $64,934. 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 11.2%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $177,100. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $305,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Clearwater County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clearwater County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 6.2%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 88.5%.