Gary, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 268, Gary'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

Gary is a small community located in Minnesota, within Norman County. The total population is 268. It ranks as the 631st most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gary is 38.5 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.8 years. With 29.8% of the population under 18, Gary has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gary is $83,750. This is 6% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.2%. This is 44% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $151,100. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Gary is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 98.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gary is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.3%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (18.3% vs 6.4%).

Education

16.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 91.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gary, 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.