Fertile, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Fertile, Minnesota had a total population of 803, the 397th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $67,125, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
Fertile Quick Facts
How Fertile 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 | 782 | 803 | +2.7% |
| Median household income | $64,444 | $67,125 | +4.2% |
| Median home value | $118,400 | $129,500 | +9.4% |
How Fertile Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Fertile Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Grand Forks | 9,028 | $77,549 | 12.4% | $255,600 |
| Crookston | 7,344 | $57,315 | 15.6% | $185,600 |
| Fosston | 1,374 | $52,500 | 25.6% | $151,700 |
| McIntosh | 847 | $56,944 | 21.7% | $103,600 |
| Erskine | 427 | $44,844 | 9.4% | $117,100 |
| Fisher | 396 | $93,542 | 5.8% | $179,000 |
| Climax | 209 | $50,500 | 16.3% | $113,600 |
| Winger | 157 | $48,229 | 6.4% | $91,300 |
| Mentor | 131 | $41,667 | 10.7% | $80,700 |
| Nielsville | 102 | $32,500 | 53.9% | $37,000 |
Cities Similar to Fertile
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerkhoven | 802 | $72,813 | $166,000 | 14.8% | 5.7% |
| Hallock | 829 | $68,854 | $140,000 | 24.7% | 12.2% |
| Watkins | 765 | $64,896 | $149,100 | 8.5% | 11.4% |
| Silver Lake | 815 | $74,432 | $202,600 | 10.8% | 3.3% |
| West Concord | 843 | $70,536 | $180,400 | 18.5% | 19.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 803, Fertile's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Fertile is a small community located in Minnesota, within Polk County. The total population is 803. It ranks as the 397th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Fertile is 44.9 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 20.9% 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 Fertile is $67,125. This is 25% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $129,500. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Fertile is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Fertile has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.0% of all residents.
Education
20.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 94.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Fertile, 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.
Free data download: Get all Minnesota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Fertile, Minnesota?
Fertile, Minnesota has a population of 803 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Fertile, MN?
The median household income in Fertile is $67,125, which is 17% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Fertile, MN?
The poverty rate in Fertile is 8.7%. This means approximately 65 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Fertile, Minnesota?
Fertile's population is 98.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Fertile, MN?
The median home value in Fertile is $129,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Fertile, Minnesota?
20.2% of adults (25+) in Fertile hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.