Knife River, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Knife River, Minnesota had a total population of 131, the 757th largest community in Minnesota, with a median household income of $78,208, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 48.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Minnesota.
- Unemployment rate of 100.0% is notably above the national average.
Knife River Quick Facts
How Knife River 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 | 98 | 131 | +33.7% |
| Median household income | $76,106 | $78,208 | +2.8% |
How Knife River 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+)
Knife River Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Lake County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Harbors | 3,567 | $65,625 | 11.7% | $206,800 |
| Silver Bay | 1,769 | $69,489 | 9.9% | $158,900 |
| Finland | 257 | $53,500 | 19.8% | $181,700 |
| Beaver Bay | 82 | $36,875 | 23.2% | $238,200 |
Cities Similar to Knife River
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coates | 131 | $82,250 | $240,000 | 19.8% | 14.5% |
| Ball Club | 127 | N/A | $206,600 | 2.4% | 60.6% |
| Ormsby | 136 | $80,625 | $75,000 | 6.5% | 10.3% |
| Viking | 125 | $76,607 | $127,500 | 17.1% | 10.4% |
| Perley | 126 | $75,250 | $91,300 | 14.9% | 14.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 131, Knife River'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
Knife River is a small community located in Minnesota, within Lake County. The total population is 131. It ranks as the 757th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Knife River is 87.7 years. This is 126% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 88.5% 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 Knife River is $78,208. This is 12% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.7%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 100.0%. This is 2363% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Knife River was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
48.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Knife River in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 25.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Knife River, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Knife River, Minnesota?
Knife River, Minnesota has a population of 131 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Knife River, MN?
The median household income in Knife River is $78,208, which is 3% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Knife River, MN?
The poverty rate in Knife River is 10.7%. This means approximately 14 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Knife River, Minnesota?
Knife River's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Knife River, MN?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Knife River — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Knife River, Minnesota?
48.1% of adults (25+) in Knife River hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 25.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.