Lake County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Name: Lake County, Minnesota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Lake County, Minnesota has a population of 10,879, the 66th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $75,541 and the median home value is $241,300. The poverty rate is 8.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lake County Quick Facts

Population 10,879

Median Household Income $75,541

Median Home Value $241,300

Poverty Rate 8.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.6%

Median Age 49.4 years

Homeownership Rate 83.5%

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.8%

High School Graduation 94.8%

Cities/Places 5

Population 10,879 66th of 87

Median Income $75,541 15% lower than state

Poverty Rate 8.6%

Unemployment 2.6%

How Lake County 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	10,911	10,879	-0.3%
Median household income	$75,621	$75,541	-0.1%
Median home value	$222,900	$241,300	+8.3%

Median Household Income

Lake

$75,541

$89,062

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lake

$241,300

$329,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.2%

$25K-$50K 14.4%

$50K-$100K 33.3%

$100K+ 35.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.5%

$10K-$15K

2.7%

$15K-$20K

2.2%

$20K-$25K

6.7%

$25K-$30K

2.7%

$30K-$35K

2.6%

$35K-$40K

2.8%

$40K-$45K

2.1%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

5.5%

$60K-$75K

12.5%

$75K-$100K

15.2%

$100K-$125K

10.1%

$125K-$150K

10.9%

$150K-$200K

9.3%

$200K+

4.8%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%

55.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.5%

Renter 16.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,093/mo 17.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.1%

18-34

14.6%

35-54

22.4%

55-74

32.4%

75+

11.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places 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
Knife River	131	$78,208	10.7%	N/A
Beaver Bay	82	$36,875	23.2%	$238,200

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 10,879. It is the 66th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 49.4 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 11.6% 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 Lake County is $75,541. This is 15% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $241,300. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lake County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

26.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% 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 94.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lake County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Minnesota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lake County, Minnesota?

Lake County has a population of 10,879, making it the 66th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Lake County?

The median household income in Lake County is $75,541 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.

How many cities are in Lake County, Minnesota?

Lake County contains 5 Census-designated places.