Kiester, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Kiester, Minnesota had a total population of 494, the 503rd largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $52,727, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 21.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 41% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 9.7% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x.
Kiester Quick Facts
How Kiester 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 | 544 | 494 | -9.2% |
| Median household income | $49,167 | $52,727 | +7.2% |
| Median home value | $52,600 | $58,800 | +11.8% |
How Kiester 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+)
Kiester Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Faribault County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Earth | 3,165 | $66,771 | 10.8% | $143,600 |
| Wells | 2,296 | $60,156 | 8.7% | $103,900 |
| Winnebago | 1,280 | $59,643 | 11.1% | $110,900 |
| Elmore | 451 | $41,250 | 24.4% | $46,700 |
| Bricelyn | 392 | $52,750 | 10.8% | $58,100 |
| Frost | 275 | $76,250 | 10.5% | $70,800 |
| Easton | 178 | $76,250 | 0.6% | $98,500 |
| Delavan | 160 | $63,125 | 17.7% | $57,700 |
| Walters | 57 | $38,125 | 33.3% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Kiester
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont | 502 | $56,625 | $132,800 | 13.7% | 32.5% |
| Hendricks | 517 | $51,250 | $115,500 | 33.1% | 9.6% |
| Lyle | 504 | $58,269 | $111,800 | 7.5% | 11.7% |
| Nevis | 496 | $60,268 | $182,000 | 22.8% | 7.9% |
| Franklin | 526 | $51,500 | $89,800 | 10.3% | 16.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 494, Kiester'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
Kiester is a small community located in Minnesota, within Faribault County. The total population is 494. It ranks as the 503rd most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Kiester is 44.8 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Kiester is $52,727. This is 41% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.5%. This is 131% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $58,800. Housing costs are 82% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Kiester is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Kiester has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%.
Education
9.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% 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 90.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Kiester, 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 Kiester, Minnesota?
Kiester, Minnesota has a population of 494 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Kiester, MN?
The median household income in Kiester is $52,727, which is 35% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Kiester, MN?
The poverty rate in Kiester is 21.5%. This means approximately 106 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Kiester, Minnesota?
Kiester's population is 93.1% White, 0.0% Black, 5.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Kiester, MN?
The median home value in Kiester is $58,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.1x.
How educated is Kiester, Minnesota?
9.7% of adults (25+) in Kiester hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.