Skip to main content

Meeker County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Meeker County, Minnesota has a population of 23,468, the 43rd most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $75,446 and the median home value is $249,000. The poverty rate is 9.1%.

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

Meeker County Quick Facts

Population 23,468
Median Household Income $75,446
Median Home Value $249,000
Poverty Rate 9.1%
Unemployment Rate 3.2%
Median Age 42.2 years
Homeownership Rate 79.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.0%
High School Graduation 93.8%
Cities/Places 8
Population 23,468 43rd of 87
Median Income $75,446 15% lower than state
Poverty Rate 9.1%
Unemployment 3.2%

How Meeker County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population23,42223,468+0.2%
Median household income$75,037$75,446+0.5%
Median home value$228,900$249,000+8.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.5%
$25K-$50K 20.3%
$50K-$100K 31.1%
$100K+ 36.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.8%
$10K-$15K
3.4%
$15K-$20K
3.0%
$20K-$25K
3.4%
$25K-$30K
3.6%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
4.3%
$45K-$50K
4.0%
$50K-$60K
8.1%
$60K-$75K
8.7%
$75K-$100K
14.2%
$100K-$125K
11.9%
$125K-$150K
8.8%
$150K-$200K
9.5%
$200K+
6.0%

Employment

3.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
64.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.3%
Renter 20.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $904/mo 14.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Meeker County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Litchfield6,576$54,87515.1%$187,600
Dassel1,358$59,94613.3%$236,800
Grove City814$53,8396.5%$142,100
Watkins765$64,89611.4%$149,100
Cosmos536$56,63515.3%$105,500
Darwin358$70,00010.4%$175,000
Kingston206$100,3572.4%$221,900
Cedar Mills40$57,50012.5%$108,300

Population Overview

Meeker County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 23,468. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Meeker County is 42.2 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Meeker County is $75,446. This is 15% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $249,000. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Meeker County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Meeker 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 Meeker County, Minnesota?

Meeker County has a population of 23,468, making it the 43rd most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Meeker County?

The median household income in Meeker County is $75,446 with a poverty rate of 9.1%.

How many cities are in Meeker County, Minnesota?

Meeker County contains 8 Census-designated places.