Garfield, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 282, Garfield'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

Garfield is a small community located in Minnesota, within Douglas County. The total population is 282. It ranks as the 620th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Garfield is 46.0 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.0% 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 Garfield is $56,696. This is 36% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.1%. This is 77% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 12.4%. This is 206% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $166,600. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Garfield is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Garfield has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.8%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

7.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 82% 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 98.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Garfield, 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.